Joyce Claudine Peden Janis Ward

Graveside service for Joyce Claudine Peden Janis Ward will be at 4 p.m. Friday, September 17, 2021, in the Washington Cemetery, with Rev. Les Bussell, Pastor of the Snyder First United Methodist Church, Snyder, officiating.
Burial will be held under the direction of Becker-Rabon Funeral Home of Snyder.

Joyce Claudine Peden Janis Ward, age 88, Snyder, passed away on Monday, September 13, 2021, at Ayers Nursing Home in Snyder. Joyce was born March 9, 1933, in Ravia to parents Claud and Cleo Baker Peden. She married Forrest L. Janis in October of 1950 and to this union eight children were born.

Joyce spent many years as an Army spouse traveling to many areas of the United States as well as Germany. She spent her later years working as a private health care worker until the age of 80, when her health wouldn’t allow it anymore. Joyce enjoyed dancing, sewing, reading, leather tooling and making jewelry. She also wrote and illustrated two children’s books based on her childhood pet, “Nanny the Goat “and her horse, “A Play Date with Appie”.

Joyce is survived by her children Paul (Vaughn) Janis and spouse Glenna, Jani Young and spouse Scott, Judy Lance and spouse Steve , Harry (Dwayne) Janis and spouse Sheri all of Altus; Tamra Phelan and spouse John of Mountain Park; James (Jesse) Janis and fiancé Natalie Smith of Elgin and one son-in-law Leander Thacker of Richardson, Texas.

She is also survived by 43 grandchildren and spouses: Dandi Janis Sipes of Cordell, Jill Janis Garret (Jerry) Velma-Alma, Jessica Janis George (Chris) Lawton, Amy Janis Shelby (Tyler) Tuttle, Kimberly Self (Justin) Lawton, Dustye Merriman (Shane) Sedgewick, Kansas, Robin Shetter (Allen), Citrus Springs, Florida, Shanna Williams Bomboy (Warren), Altus, Kristi Young, Altus, Justin Young (Daana), Panama City , Fl., Shannon Young Anderson (Will), Stillwater , Steven Lance (Abbie) ,Webb City, MO, Katy Lance Perry (Walter), Choctaw, Clay Phelan (Julie)OKC, Grady Phelan (Erin) Waco, Tx, Cory Thacker, Portland, OR, Jami Thacker Sublett (Jeff), Portland, OR, Kayse Janis Harris (Jon), Altus, Brittney Janis Smith (Greg), Ponca City, Taylor Landes ( fiancé Tyler Carpenter), Altus , Emily Smith, Elgin, Lindsey Caldwell (Chris), Lawton, Samantha Smith, OKC, Billy Gonzales, Lawton, Quinton Smith, Lawton, 48 great-grandchildren; 23 great-great-grandchildren; special friends Bea and Andy Anderson of Altus and a host of many other family and friends.

She is preceded in death by a much-loved son and daughter, Forrest (Butch) Lee Janis Jr. (d. Dec. 1968) and Teresa Mae Janis Thacker (d. Mar 2014), two great-grandchildren Britleigh Janis and Aron George; her parents Claud and Cleo Peden, two sisters Pat Blackshire and Vicky Stover and one brother Calvin Peden.

The family would like to express our most sincere thanks, appreciation and gratitude to the staff of Ayers Nursing Home for their love and compassion shown not only to our mother but also to us during her stay in the home.