Janet C. Williams was born on January 2, 1950, at the historic Presidio military base in San Francisco, California. From an early age, she showed a deep passion for education and a heart for service that would define her life’s work.

She began her teaching career in 1973 in the Rolla, Missouri, elementary school system. After five years, she transitioned to the Richland, Missouri, school system, where she taught from 1978 to 1982. In 1982, Janet began teaching in Waynesville, Missouri, where she spent the next ten years in elementary education.

Janet married the love of her life, Bill Williams, on October 11, 1980. Together, they shared 45 years of marriage filled with love, partnership, and adventure. In 1992, Janet and Bill pursued a venture in hospitality, traveling across the country auditing and troubleshooting motels and connecting with people from all walks of life.

Despite her work outside the classroom, Janet’s heart remained in education. She returned to teaching in 1996 and continued to serve area schools until her retirement in 2015. Over the course of her career, she taught for a total of 35 years, leaving a lasting impact on countless students and colleagues.

Janet earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Missouri State University in 1972 and later completed her master’s degree in early childhood education from the University of Missouri in 1990.

She passed away on June 28, 2025, at Phelps County Hospital in Rolla, Missouri, surrounded by friends and family who loved her dearly. Janet was truly an inspiring teacher, a devoted wife, and a remarkable woman.

She is survived by her husband, Bill Williams; her sister, Phyllis Bowden; and her brother, William Longanecker.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be made to the Claws and Paws Animal Adoption Center in Lebanon, Missouri—a cause close to Janet’s heart.