Thomas R. & Janette M. Oviatt

Thomas and Janette Oviatt tragically died in a car accident on Wednesday, December 13, 2023. Tom was born to the late Bernard and Helen Oviatt on May 17, 1943, in Melrose, Illinois. Janette was born in Phoenix on June 26, 1944, to the late Virgil “Vel” and Ruth Johnson.

They married on September 7, 1964, and have shared over 59 years of marriage. Tom and Janette were members of Love Baptist Church, where he served as a deacon, and she was involved with many committees. When their children were young, Janette was a softball coach and served as a Cub Scout Leader (den mother).

Tom served in the United States Army and later joined the Arizona National Guard. They were both very patriotic, and Janette was known to regularly sport her red, white, and blue. Tom worked three different jobs for the City of Phoenix for over 50 years. He was a police officer, detective, and court security supervisor, and he later worked security for the library division. Janette worked for almost 20 years in shipping and receiving with AiResearch, which became AlliedSignal, and at her retirement, it was Honeywell.

They are survived by three children, Rhonda (JR) Carriger, Debby (Pace) Foster & Tom (Stephanie) Oviatt, and seven grandchildren, Ashley (Andrew) Hayes, Krystle (Jeff) Coté, Blake (Aryanna) Oviatt, Colton Reeves, Chad (Kat) Oviatt, Marci (Patrick) Stone and McKenzee (Henry Marques) Foster and ten great-grandchildren. Tom is also survived by his brother Bernard (Loretta) Oviatt and brother-in-law Perry Gillette; he was preceded in death by his sister Betty Jo Gillette. Janette is also survived by sister Velda (Arch) Maddock & brother Robert (Mya or Maya) Johnson.

The viewing will be held on Friday, December 29, 2023, from 5-8 PM at West Resthaven Funeral Home, 6450 W. Northern Avenue, Glendale. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, December 30, 2023, at 11 AM. Burial, with military honors for Tom, will follow in Resthaven Park Cemetery.