Janice Viann Tompkins

Janice Viann Tompkins (Christie) was born June 25th, 1943, at Farragut Naval Base in Idaho to Virginia Jane Christie (Kienholz) and Roland Samuel Christie, where Roland was stationed in the Navy during World War II. Janice grew up on the Christie Hop Farm with a free spirit, enjoying riding horses and motorcycles; in general, all the things that farm kids will do. She attended Grants Pass High School and graduated in the Class of 1961. She married her husband, Jeffrey Tompkins, on August 6th, 1966. Jeff and Janice ran Chet’s Garden & Pet in downtown Grants Pass after the untimely passing of Jeff’s father, Chet.

They enjoyed spending time on weekends and summer trips on a series of sailboats, and later, supporting their daughter in many horse lessons and shows without complaint. Janice was an accomplished pastelist; winning many awards and selling her work in several galleries. Her moody and painterly landscapes are enjoyed by many. Janice was a devoted and fierce mother to her daughter Sandra Barry (Tompkins) and Grandmother to her grandson’s. She is survived by her husband Jeffery Tompkins, daughter Sandra Barry (Daniel), her grandsons Nathan Brown and Ethan Brown, her brother Michael Christie, her brother and sister-in-law Don & Vicki Bilyeu and many others who have known and loved her sweet and spicy nature. She was preceded in death by her mother and father Roland and Virginia Christie, her grandparents and her aunts and uncles. A special thank you goes out to Autumn House, Riverside Home Health, and a group of lovely caregivers that assisted and cared for her when we could no longer do so.