Janice was born in Saline County, Missouri on December 5, 1925. She was the oldest child of Bernice Jones and Ruth (Lewellen) Jones. Following college in Warrensburg, Missouri, she taught school in a one-room schoolhouse in Orearville, Missouri for one year. She married O.R. (Ralph) Sutton on April 18, 1945.
Soon after marrying, they moved to Merriam Kansas. After a few years, they bought five acres in rural Clay County, Missouri. There, Ralph spent many long hours after work and weekends building the family home with his own sweat and love. Ralph and Janice loved the acreage and planted large gardens. She and Ralph taught their three children how to be good stewards, to sacrifice, to work hard, and to love God and love and care for their neighbors.
In addition to being a loving wife and mother, Janice enjoyed working as the assistant manager in the cafeteria at Oak Park High School. She was a hard worker and made many sacrifices for her family. When she could find the time, she enjoyed reading, sewing, visiting friends and shopping with her cousin, Ruthie. After retirement and Ralph’s death in 1999, Janice moved back to Kansas and resided with her daughter, Connie and her family.
Janice was the model of the Christian Life. Her selfless love knew no bounds. She loved people and people loved her. She was devoted to her family – her husband, her children and grandchildren. After her grandchildren married and began having children she became GG (Great Grandmother). She loved the name GG, and, after Jesus, her great-grandchildren became the focal point of her life. Before her health declined, she would attend all their activities – school programs, sports games, and plays.
She began attending Mass with the family and soon became a fixture at the 8:15 Mass at Ascension Church. Mass was a joy for her and at the age of 88 she entered the Church.
She was preceded in death by her husband, O.R. Sutton; her son, Ralph Lee Sutton; and her brother, Kenneth Jones.
She is survived by a brother, Sam Jones of Slater, Missouri; a son, Paul Sutton (Stacie) of Castle Rock, Colorado; a daughter, Connie Stanley (John) of Overland Park, Kansas; seven grandchildren, David Stanley (Kristan), Amanda Menghini (Michael), and Andrew Stanley (Samantha), all of Overland Park, Kansas, Sarah Stanley Bauer (Nate) of Fairbanks, Alaska, Matthew Sutton of Houston, Texas, Joseph Sutton (Britney) of Odessa, Texas, and Nicole Sutton of Seattle, Washington; and 15 great grandchildren.
The Mass will not be open, but can be live-streamed at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, May 7th, by going to Ascension’s website: www.kcascension.org and then click “LIVE STREAM”. The Funeral Mass video will remain on Ascensions website for a few days after the funeral.”
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Church of the Ascension, 9510 W. 127th Street, Overland Park, KS 66213 or Catholic Charities of NE Kansas, 9720 W. 87th Street, Overland Park, Kansas 66212.
