Roxanne Jamnik

Roxanne Jamnik (Ashley) - November 28, 1954 - January 11, 2024

Roxanne Jamnik succumbed suddenly to complications from cancer during home hospice in Darlington, Maryland on Thursday, January 11, 2024. She was born in Northville, Michigan to Charles and Barbara Ashley on November 28, 1954. She had very happy memories of being a 1st chair drummer in her high school marching band since her first days at Milford High School. She might have gone straight on to college at the University of Michigan if the "The Marching Men of Michigan" marching band had allowed women in their ranks at the time.

Roxanne worked part time at 14, and was employed more or less continuously at many different jobs including running her own business, until she took early retirement at 62 years old, partially because of health issues. She took a keen interest in the writings of William Shakespeare early on and was brilliant at any task she was assigned whether it be in school, the United States Army, college, or any kind of work experience. She graduated with a BA in Psychology from Oakland University in Rochester Michigan when she was 44 years old.

Some of her jobs included being a restaurant hostess, work in an accounting office of a major department store, being a dog groomer, census enumerator, an emergency coordinator for an organization that handled special needs folks, a county health department hearing clinic and well baby clinic facilitator. She was also a mother, real estate agent, security officer at the International Monetary Fund, and a Russian Linguist with an MOS (military occupational specialty) of Army EW/Signal Intelligence Voice Interceptor with the rank of Staff Sergeant in the United States Army Reserve.

Roxanne was married to Michael K. Lawson, and then Thomas Jamnik. She and Tom had a son Nathan (Nate) and also raised several foster children in the Detroit suburbs of Michigan. After her separation from Tom, Roxanne met Bob McLean and less than a year later relocated to Maryland where they thrived for 25 years living in Shoreham Beach, Huntingtown, Chesapeake Beach and finally Darlington, Maryland.

Roxanne had strong beliefs in an afterlife, and was looking forward to meeting up with her parents, and others that have passed. She did not want to be described as bravely fighting cancer she simply wanted it stated that she was afflicted with cancer. She, and her father, who passed a few years ago (also from complications associated with cancer) both faced their final days with confidence and courage and without self-pity.

Roxanne is predeceased by her parents and is survived by her life partner Robert McLean, Jr., her son Nate and her elder brother Steve Ashley of Benton, Tennessee, two nephews - Steven and David and her niece Allison. Roxanne was very fond of flowers but would prefer actions and donations in lieu to animal welfare organizations such as Shadowcats TNR (trap neuter and release). Shadowcats TNR provided background support for the neighborhood feral, semi-feral, and domesticated cats who would fascinate her by regularly stopping by her porch for food and clean water.

A celebration of the life of Roxanne Jamnik is planned at 6pm the evening of February 2, 2024 in the home that she enjoyed at 2117 Shuresville Road in Darlington, Maryland 21034.