Janice Pearce

Janice Pearce, 81, passed away peacefully, Friday November 23, 2012 after her favorite holiday, Thanksgiving in Logan, Utah.

Our dear aunt, affectionately known as “Aunt Janice,” will be missed by family and friends but will find great joy and peace in being reunited with her parents, Kelly and Thyra, her sister-in-law Carol and her nephew, Evan.

Janice was admired and respected for her intellect, her educational achievements, her many contributions to her community in Logan, Utah, and her pioneering efforts in advancing the causes of women as a single sister.  Most of all, Janice will be fondly remembered by her family as the “spunkiest” person we’ve ever known, who was always fun to be around.  We wish that every family could be so blessed and fortunate, as we were, to have an “Aunt Janice” to enrich their lives.  We will cherish our memories of her—and enjoy the present of laughter the she gave to us all so freely.

Janice, the older of two children, was born August 8, 1931, to Kelly and Thyra Pearce in Salt Lake City, Utah.  Following graduation from South High School in Salt Lake City, she attended the University of Utah, graduating with a BS degree in Physical Education.  She received a Masters degree in Health Education at Washington State and continued her educational pursuits at Stanford, eventually receiving aPhD from University of Utah in Health Education and Developmental Psychology.

Janice got her start, in what became a lifelong career, as a teacher at Olympus High School.  She became a full professor shortly thereafter at Utah State University in Logan, Utah, eventually becoming the Chair of the Health Education Program.  After a 28-year career at Utah State, Janice retired from teaching in 1992.  Janice was beloved by her students, many keeping in touch with her and involving her in their lives as a mentor and friend long after they left her classroom.  She impacted so many lives because of her knowledge and professionalism, love of teaching, and her love and compassion towards her fellow man.

Her professional activities, involvement, and contributions continued well after her retirement and included the following:  President of the American School Health Association; President of the Utah Federation of Business and Professional Women, Board Member of Hospice; Board of Trustees Member of Cache Valley Health Care Foundation; Chairman of the Utah State Board of Substance Abuse; Member of the Board of Trustees of the Boys and Girls Club of Cache Valley; Member of the Sunshine Terrace Advisory Board; Member of the Board of Trustees of the Cache Valley Community Food Pantry; Member of the Board of Trustees of Bear River Mental Health, and served on the Logan City Council form 1990-2001, eventually presiding as the Chairman.

In addition to her many career and professional accomplishments and contributions, Janice was a very accomplished tennis player and authored several professional books and guides on tennis.  She enjoyed participating in state tennis tournaments, and was a fierce competitor, but she loved participating in Pearce family tennis days with her brother, Wayne, and all of us.  Those days will never be forgotten; this is when Janice was at her best and was the most fun!

Janice loved to read, photography, travel, attend cultural events, work on her yard and was always active in her community.

Janice was a devoted member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served in many callings, but her religious beliefs and faith never got in the way of building bridges of mutual understanding and respect with people of other faiths, and those with no faith, in her professional and personal life.  She was truly a Christ-like person and practiced true religion every day of her life.  Janice was a great example, in this regard, to all those who had the good fortune to know her.

Janice is survived by her brother, Wayne (wife Susan), nieces Leslie (Dave) Craig and Diana (Nate) Bryson; and nephews Brad (Cindi) Pearce and Robert Pearce.  She will be greatly missed by her great nieces and nephews:  Jordan, Kaitlyn, Tara, Callie, Kelsie, John, Matthew, Jackson, Cami, Kate, Christian, Kaden, Joshua, Gwen, and Halle.

Jan was preceded in death by her parents Thyra and Kelly Pearce, nephew Evan Pearce and sister-in-law Carol Douglas Pearce and her beloved dogs Lance, Anthony, Cleopatra and Daisy.

Janice will be dearly missed by her close friend and confidante Darla D. Clark, who was always there when Jan needed her.

The family would like to give thanks and express their profound appreciation and gratitude to Janice’s dear friend, Darla Clark.  Janice could not have had a more devoted, loyal friend than Darla, who defines true friendship in word and deed.

Janice really enjoyed her "Friday" Group Pat, Charlotte, Jan, Joan and all the others that belonged over the years and she is looking forward to seeing them soon. A special thank you to Williamsburg and all her many friends there for making it her home this past years. Ruth and Wing 7 Rehabilitation at Sunshine Terrace, Suezan Johnson who gave Janice loving support, Cathy Hall and nurses of hospice and all who gave special care and love to Janice these last months.

Funeral services will be held at 12:00 PM on Wednesday, November 28, 2012 at the Allen-Hall Mortuary Chapel, 34 East Center Street in Logan. A viewing will be held on Tuesday evening from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at the Mortuary and prior to services on Wednesday from 10:30 to 11:30 AM. Burial at Wasatch Lawn Cemetery in Salt Lake City next to her parents.

Condolences may be sent to the family at www.allenmortuaries.net

In lieu of flowers, because of Jan’s great love for her animals, please make donations to the Cache Humane Society, 2370 West Valley View Highway (200 North), Logan, Utah 84321.