Jan Dev Kristiansson (aka Janice Murray) was born in Brooklyn, New York on October 18, 1951. After a short illness, she died peacefully on Thursday, November 27, 2025, in Longmont, Colorado.

Jan attended Hunter High School and graduated in 1969. After high school she attended City College of New York from 1970 -1973, majoring in English Literature. After taking a hiatus from academia she completed her undergraduate work at SUNY/Empire State College. She graduated in 1982 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Cultural Studies with a concentration in Women’s Studies & Creative Writing.

Jan loved words. In pursuit of that passion, she enrolled at Warren Wilson College in Swannanoa, North Carolina and graduated in 1986 with a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing degree.

For most of her work life, Jan made her living as a Freelance Academic Editor. Her broad knowledge base allowed her to bring her keen intelligence, love of language, and a deep respect for authors to all her work. She worked for numerous publishing houses including Samuel Weiser in New York City, Westview Press in Boulder Colorado and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (HMH), a global education and publishing company.

Jan retired in 2013. She continued to be an avid reader and immersed herself in many different disciplines.

She had a lifelong interest in spirituality and explored many traditions. 

She is survived by her wife of 49 years, Joan M. Devine.

To honor Jan's wishes, there will not be a funeral service.

If you wish to honor Jan, please consider a donation to TRU Community Care or to Community Food Share. TRU is a nonprofit healthcare organization offering (among other services) hospice and palliative care. TRU is located at 2594 Trailridge Drive East, Lafayette, CO 80026.

Community Food Share is located at 650 S. Taylor Avenue, Louisville, CO, 80027.