Janice Buchanan-Sohrabi, age 63, died in Oklahoma City after a long battle with kidney disease. She was known for her intelligence, her outspokenness, and her fierce love and loyalty to family and friends.

Born in Alabama, Jan moved with her parents to Oklahoma as a youngster. A graduate of the University of Chicago, she returned to Oklahoma following college. She earned her MBA at the University of Oklahoma, got married, and embarked on a distinguished career. After working briefly for the Federal Reserve Bank, she joined the nonpartisan fiscal staff of the Oklahoma State Legislature. She would rise to the rank of Director of fiscal staff, charged with putting together the budget for the state's legislators. She also worked for the State Auditor and the Department of Human Services.

From stints as a bartender to her work as a family court mediator, Jan was a livelong learner with a wide variety of interests. She was also an avid reader of historical fiction and a volunteer at Pets and People.

She is survived by her husband, Jalil Sohrabi, whom she met during a summer job after her first year in college.

A memorial service will be held on July 7 at 2 pm at Mercer-Adams Funeral Service Chapel, 3925 N Asbury, Bethany, OK.