Janice Ruth Greer went to rest for the final time on March 28, 2024. She thought there would no longer be a way to fix her hair and apply makeup, so she gracefully departed just in time to avoid that unease. Nothing, and I do mean nothing, would keep her from styling her hair and putting together fashionable outfits, and if you knew what a struggle it was in the end, you would be amazed. You’d also be hard-pressed to find someone fiercer than her. Life was difficult in the past few years, maybe even a decade, but Janice soldiered on. She prized her independence and gracefully kept it despite her physical challenges and the loss of her devoted husband.

Janice was, above all, an unforgettable Mother and Grandmother. She leaves behind the apples of her eye: Jason and Jen, Jessica and Keith, Max, and Mitch, as well as her brother and nieces. There is no doubt that Janice would have traded many things to shed her physical ailments and once again create, shop, and travel. Still, she will undoubtedly be happy to join her husband Jim, mom Oma Fay, dad William Sydney, and brother David, who have all passed on from this life.

She was an artist, a perfectionist, a fashionista, a hairdresser, classy and polished. As a teenager, she would work to design patterns for her clothes that her mother would bring to life at her sewing machine. She was an OG “Weird Barbie” creator, never liking her dolls’ hair. She would envision a style, find scissors, hide from her parents, and chop up her dolls’ hair. That great hair in her photographs as a young lady—not hers but wigs. She began her love of hairdressing while working in the wig section at the downtown Heers Department store in Springfield, MO. She was a brilliant teacher, and I am sure there are countless stories about Mrs. Greer from the students she taught in her art classes. She was so good at her job she earned the Art Teacher of the Year award for the State of Missouri. Her most notable artistic talent was her ceramic work. She was gifted with the potter’s wheel and made many unique creations at her home studio. Who are we kidding? We could never list all the unique things about her.

Janice was always invested in ensuring her children had the best opportunities for success in every endeavor. Upon reflection, the creator of a few of her children’s school projects would now be deemed “sus” (suspicious for those not with today’s slang). For example (this is true), that art assignment resulting in a perfect drawing?- was never done by a child of hers, perfect ceramic creation?- not once touched by someone under the age of 30, the paper mâché’ sculpture depicting a basketball player flying like Michael Jordan?- most definitely not the work of her son.

Janice was her children’s image architect. Many might remember Jason’s perfect 90210 hair—never styled on his own, Jessica’s long locks—that young girl never knew how to fix her hair until she was an adult. All that great hair was lovingly paired with perfectly coordinated clothes curated by Janice. She made sure her kids walked out the door in vogue.  However, it was more than just the clothes and hair; Janice was devoted to helping build her kid’s confidence and success, and if you were to ask her, she would not be shy to boast about the accomplishments she believed her children made. Her kids owe much of their success to her devotion to them. It is a treasure that many never have the opportunity to experience.

Janice didn’t use any catchphrases, but if she did, it would likely be from one of her favorite long-running daytime soap operas, Days of Our Lives: “Like sands through the hourglass, so are the days of our lives.” The phrase depicts Janice’s optimistic views. While the sands of an hourglass run out, you can always turn that timepiece over and start again, and that is what she is doing now, turning over the hourglass to be with those she has longed to see again.

Until next time, Janice, AKA Clanice, we love you.

A visitation will be held at the Greenlawn Funeral Home South on April 6, 2024, at 4 p.m. A Celebration of Life will follow, with the location TBD.