Janice Fay Vance

Janice Fay Gerland was born in Bryan, TX on March 3, 1954, to Roscoe Seth and Almeda (Klaus) Gerland. She spent her childhood in Dime Box, Texas and graduated from Dime Box High School in 1972. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Education from Sam Houston State University in 1975. Janice spent over 30 years teaching middle school and elementary school, mostly in math and science. She had such a knack for numbers! On January 3, 1976, she married Troy Edward Vance. Together, they raised two children, Seth and Amber.

Janice had a passion for nature. She loved to get her hands dirty. She would spend hours in her garden and tend to the many, many plants that she kept both inside and outside her home. Janice also knew how to connect with people. Not only did she make an impact on all of the students that walked through her classroom door, but she also took time to mentor and give advice to those around her. Many of you are sitting in this room today. Troy recalled a time when he and Janice were walking through H-E-B and a district manager walked up to Janice to thank her for teaching her. Janice spent a lot of her time taking care of others. She loved her family, her friends, and her neighbors with all of her heart. Her greatest joys in life came from spending time with family. Many hours were spent fishing and watching the wildlife at her brother’s place in Caldwell. She would throw her line out into the pond and just wait for the big one to bite! She also relished traveling with her husband and accompanied him to many of his shows and concerts because she enjoyed watching him play his bass on stage.

Janice welcomed friends and family into her home. Many have spoken about considering her a second mom because of her heart. Janice also cherished watching Seth and Amber begin their own families. Her three grandsons, Cole, Reed, and Vance, brought her immense joy! She attended almost every game, every concert, every performance, and every event those boys had. She always said that spending time with her GRANDBOYS, as she called them, was one of her greatest pleasures. She called them the light of her life - her Vance boys - Cole Vance, Reed Vance, and Vance Chavez. Even the text messages she sent about them always said they were the best grandsons ever. She loved spending time with her boys, whether it was on a week

long road trip across the country or just to pick one of them up from school.

Janice was one of the most selfless people around. She was always giving of herself to others.She spent many hours serving at Vista Community Church in the children’s ministry and at Helping Hands Ministry in Belton. Janice will be remembered by all as a kind, generous woman who would do anything for you. Even in death, she continues to give of herself through organ donation. Her spirit and love will continue to live on through those whose lives she touched.

Janice is preceded in death by her father, her mother, her brothers, Donnie Gerland and Gene Gerland, her father-in-law, George Vance, and mother-in-law, Joan Vance. She is survived by her loving husband, Troy, her son, Seth, daughter-in-law Lori, and their two boys, Cole and Reed, her daughter, Amber, son-in-law Bobby, and their son, Vance. She is also survived by her brother, Burney Gerland, and her sister, Julie Turrentine, brother-in-law, George, sisters-in-law, Carla Brinkman and Denise Hicks, and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

A memorial service will be held at Vista Community Church on Tuesday, November 1, 2022 at 2:00pm.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Janice’s name to Foster Love of Bell County or Impact Church Temple.