Janis Ryder Ehlers, age 76, of Lake Charles, Louisiana passed away on Wednesday, July 3, 2024. Janis was born in Port Arthur, Texas, on August 9, 1947, to Joseph S. Ryder and Esther D. Ryder. She grew up in Bell City, LA, graduated from Bell City High School in 1965, and attended McNeese State University. Janis graduated with a B.S. Degree in Nursing.
After graduating, she worked at St. Patrick's Hospital in Pediatrics, and later at the McNeese Infirmary. She went on to work for the Calcasieu Parish School System for 30 years, starting as a School Nurse, and later became a School Nurse Supervisor. Janis was an active member of the Louisiana State Nurse's Organization, served a term as Secretary for LSNO, and Cochaired two LSNO Conventions. She was also a member of Krewe Deja Vous for over 20 years.
After her retirement, Janis and her husband, Chuck, owned The Louisiana Market for a few years. She enjoyed managing the store, as well as, meeting all the wonderful customers from different parts of the United States and the World. Janis took pleasure in baking, dancing, sewing for herself, as well as others, performing hand and machine embroidery, creating needlepoint Christmas stockings for her family, and sewing and decorating Mardi Gras costumes.
Janis was recently met in heaven by her husband and best friend, John (Chuck) Ehlers; and was preceded in death by her parents, Joseph S. Ryder and Esther D. Ryder; sisters, Priscilla Gragg and Winona Klumpp; and nephew, Val Gragg.
She is survived by her son, Christopher J. Trahan (Cherie); daughter, Meghan E. McCormick (Kyle); step-sons, Christopher Ehlers and James Ehlers (Fran); step-daughter, Summer Schmitz (Nick); brother, Curtis J. Ryder, M.D. (Nita); sister, Myra K. Lavergne (Reggie). Janis is called Gran/GoGo by six grandchildren, Colby J. Trahan, Ryder P. McCormick, Ashley Ehlers, Brock Schmitz, Landon Schmitz, and Madison Schmitz and is survived by many nieces and nephews.
The family will welcome relatives and friends at Hixson Funeral Home of Lake Charles on Wednesday, July 17, 2024 beginning at 2:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. with a rosary to be prayed at 6:00 p.m. Visitation will resume on Thursday, July 18, 2024 at the funeral home at 8:00 a.m. until the procession leaves for the church at 10:30 a.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Martin de Porres Catholic Church at 11:00 a.m. Burial will follow at Consolata Cemetery. The Msgr. Jace Eskind will officiate at the services.
Please leave fond memories for the Ehlers family at www.hixsonfuneralhomes.com.
