Janice Niemeyer Smith went to meet her Lord and Savior on June 21st. She passed away peacefully in her sleep with her family by her side. Janice was born on July 30th 1931 in Akron, Ohio. She was the daughter of the late Harold J. and Beth Gladding Niemeyer. Janice was reunited with her husband Don who preceded her in death twenty two years ago. She was preceded in death by her brother Dr. Harold G. Niemeyer of Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio and two grandsons Joshua Smith and John Thornhill both of Memphis.
Janice graduated from the College of Wooster in Wooster, Ohio with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Sociology. She was a substitute teacher for Wood County schools in West Virginia. Janice was a devout Christian and was raised in the Presbyterian faith. She attended the United Methodist Church after her marrying her beloved husband. She and her husband raised their children in the Methodist faith.
Janice was an Eastern Star of the Masonic Order. She was a Legion Bell in the Legion of Honor, as well as a Sweetheart of the Provost Guard of Al Chymia Shrine Temple in Memphis.
She is survived by her children Janice Thornhill, Don Smith (Donna) and Jeff Smith (Kimberly) of Memphis; one sister-in-law Margaret Niemeyer of Stowe, eight grandchildren, two great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
Janice was a loving mother, aunt and grandmother. She loved spending time with all of her family. She was an avid bridge player and loved playing card games with her children and grandchildren.
The family will receive friends Tuesday, July 7th from 9 to 10 at The Memphis Funeral Home and Memorial Gardens on Germantown Parkway with a service to follow. Interment will be held at West Tennessee State Veteran’s Cemetery at Forest Hill Irene at 1:15PM.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital.
