Janet Virginia O’Meara

April 19, 1939-Nov. 16, 2025

Janet “Jan” Virginia O’Meara died peacefully Nov. 16, 2025, at The Terrace in Homer, Alaska, with her sister Betty Hunter and friend Cathy Stingley by her side. Jan was born in Washington state but lived in the Los Angeles area as an adolescent and young adult where she met and married Mike O’Meara. They moved to Anchorage in 1969. 

In California Jan had extensive experience as a legal secretary. Following the move to Alaska she worked for an Anchorage attorney for a time and attended University of Alaska Anchorage. After graduating summa cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in history and a secondary teaching credential, she taught at Chugiak-Gruening Junior-Senior High School. Jan was especially interested in Alaska history, from pre-contact through the trans-Alaska pipeline boom era. She loved Alaska’s natural beauty and abundance and was an active conservationist. 

In 1971 Jan and Mike bought 120 acres of a homestead overlooking the Anchor River where they moved in 1976. Over the years, with help from friends and the Kachemak Heritage Land Trust, they were able to preserve all 160 acres of the original homestead for wildlife habitat and as critical Anchor River watershed.  

 

After settling in at the homestead, Jan went to work at the Homer News as typesetter. Her experience as a legal secretary made her extremely fast and accurate, and she could even edit as she typed. Interestingly, in looking into family history, Jan’s brother John found that their grandfather had entered the newspaper business as a typesetter too (but with movable type), eventually becoming editor and publisher. Like Grandpa, Jan progressed from typesetter to journalist and on, ultimately developing her own business, Wizard Works, as a small press editor/publisher.      

                                                            

Jan was deeply involved in the community and supported many area non-profits, devoting a great deal of time and energy to the Pratt Museum and the Rotary Club of Homer Downtown. She never liked conflict, loved people and wanted the best for everyone. In recent years she enjoyed fellowship worshiping at the Homer Friends Meetings. 

Jan is survived by sister Elizabeth (Betty) Hunter, brother John Wise, niece Kathy Segal, nephews Mark and Brian Hunter and former husband Mike O’Meara.

Jan requested that family and friends gather to enjoy one another in loving memory. Please join us at 7 p.m. June 20, at the Homer Senior Citizens Activity Room. Bring your stories and, if you wish, finger food to share. 

Jan’s ashes will be spread on the homestead with those of other family members.