Those left to cherish her memory are her son, Mark Anthony Tapia; daughter, Melissa Ann Steen and husband Ronnie; brother, Jose “Uncle Joe” Campos and wife Elena; and sister, Josephine “Josie” C. Ramos. Grandchildren include Aaron Micheal Nading, April Michelle Tapia and Mason Anthony Tapia. Great grandchildren are Johnmicheal “JM” Nading, Alexandria “Alex” Nading, Dominic “Nicky” Nading, Danielle Renee “The Goose” Leon, and Richard Anthony “Bacon” Noguer, all of Odessa, TX.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Manuel Lara Tapia; parents; and siblings, Delores “Uncle Lolo” Campos, Reynaldo “Uncle Rey” Campos, Edwina “Nina” Alvarez, Margie “Mamabird” Ramirez, Olivia “Tia Guerra” Luna, Anita “Panina” Gonzalez, Mario “Big Mac” Campos, and Beatrice “Tia Betty” Gonzales.
Janie was born in Marfa but spent most of her life in Odessa. She attended Ector High School then attended and graduated from Odessa Beauty College, where she majored in Cosmetology. She was employed at Elodie’s Beauty Shop. On July 24, 1966 she married Manuel Lara Tapia in Pecos, TX. (They were married for 44 years). After her children were born, she stayed home so she could raise them. She was a proud supporter of the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts. She helped Mark earn all of his badges and she helped Melissa become the Odessa Cookie Champion for 3 years in a row. When they were old enough to attend junior high school, Janie applied for another job at Michael’s Arts & Crafts Store. She started as a cashier then worked her way up to becoming the Framing Department Manager from 1985 to 1992. She then became a full time Homemaker.
Janie loved cooking, from simple things like carne con ejotes to asado and menudo. She also loved baking lots of treats like birthday cakes, pineapple upside down cakes, biscochos, and millionaire pies. Everything that she cooked or baked was phenomenal! She also enjoyed making flowers for weddings, quiceaneras, bridal & bridesmaid bouquets, corsages, boutonnieres, hairpieces, etc. If you told her what your ideas were, she would make them happen. She could make something out of nothing and it would become beautiful. She was always thinking ahead and planning special things for all of the people she loved. Together you would make the plans, then she’d work the plan for you like magic! She was also a member of the Legion of Mary and attended St. Mary’s Catholic Church. She loved gardening in her spare time and growing flowers, plants & vegetables. She loved all kinds of flowers and she especially loved red roses. Three red roses in a glass vase made her smile from ear to ear. They symbolized her family, one for her husband, one for her son, and one for her daughter.
Janie was very compassionate, selfless, loving and forgiving. She could listen to you vent and she could give you advice, she could celebrate life milestones with you or she could give you a shoulder to cry on and she was always there for you, no matter what the situation was. Her love was always unconditional. She will be greatly missed by all.
The family will receive friends for visitation on Tuesday, March 30, 2021 from 5-9 PM at Hubbard-Kelly Funeral Home. The Rosary will be recited at 7 PM. A Mass of Christian Burial will be Wednesday, March 31, 2021 at 10 AM at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church followed by burial at the Los Angeles section of Ector County Cemetery. Honorary pallbearers are Adrian Ramos and Efrain “Packy” Ramos. Active pallbearers are Aaron “Micheal” Nading, Mason Tapia, Ramon Subia, Robert Alvarez, Jimmy Ray Leonard and Matthew Barreno.
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