Janice LaRue Stewart

Janice LaRue Houston was born on September 22, 1939, in Denver, CO. to Clinton “Jack” Houston and Mary Lorene Houston (Bennett). She was the oldest of three children, which included sister Judy and brother Jack. Janice graduated from West High School in Denver and participated in art studies at Denver University prior to marrying her high school sweetheart, Arnold “Sonny” LeRoy Stewart, on August 22, 1959, in Denver, CO.

Arnold and Janice lived briefly in Denver, before moving to Lakewood, CO., where they would spend the rest of their lives living on Valentine Street in Green Mountain.

Janice was born an artist. Anyone who spent time with her knew she was in love with art. She exhibited her paintings in many local, regional and national juried art shows, and has paintings in the permanent collections of Belmar Museum in Lakewood, CO.; Canon City, CO Fine Arts Center; and Glenwood Springs, CO Art Guild. She also earned an Associate Degree in Graphic Design/Illustration from Arapahoe Community College in Littleton, CO., in 1999. Her skills and avocation in drawing, painting and design led to employment in art related fields such as graphic design advertising and retail visual merchandising. Her interest in art and art history also provided an opportunity for her to work in the visitor services at the Denver Art Museum’s “Impressionism” exhibit in 1999.

Jan’s paintings often time reflected the patterns of her life. “Dreams of Glory,” an acrylic and ink painting that won a Merit Award at the 1978 Colorado State Fair Fine Arts Exhibition, featured her oldest son Michael sleeping on a bed with sheets adorned with logos of baseball teams. Another painting, title unknown, featured her son David, who can be seen in the distance fishing by a lake with their yellow lab Moze, waiting patiently for a bite and the chance to reel one in. This painting was also purchased. “Reflections of a Nice Girl,” a mixed media painting that won several awards including the Grand Champion at the Brush & Palette Art Exhibit in Grand Junction and the Purchase Award at Design Center in Grand Junction, interesting enough was painted as if you were looking into a dirty oven. In the back of the dirty oven, ever so slightly was the reflection of a girl, laying on her side and peering into the oven. It was evident she did not want to clean the dirty oven. (Please note that this girl was not Janice’s daughter Tina). Other pieces included the titles of “Please Water the Geraniums,” “Where’s The Hammer,” and “No Fishing Today at Lake John.”

One of Jan’s special accomplishments related to her artwork was not displayed on a canvas, but rather appeared as an 80-foot long mural at the Villa Italia Shopping Mall in 1994. Jan designed the mural and was the production coordinator of the project which commemorated the 25th anniversary of Lakewood, Colo. The Villa Italia, including Jan’s mural, was demolished in 2002.

Another highlight in Jan’s art world came in 2004 when she fulfilled a life-long dream to visit France. Jan participated in the Arapahoe Community College Summer Study Program in France where she had the opportunity to visit the Louvre as well as draw and paint in the land of the Impressionists. Jan often reminisced about visiting France with family and friends, especially her dear friend Denise Morris who is originally from France.

You never knew where you might find Jan sketching something that caught her eye. It could be on the side of a lake during a family camping trip, amongst the weeds sketching Molly Brown’s summer house or even in her own rock garden as she sketched her painting, “Crab Grass in My Rock Garden.” She once wrote, “My paintings reflect my love of line, shape and color, and the practice of art continues to influence many facets of my life.”

As much as Jan loved her art, she loved her family even more. She along with Sonny supported Mike, David and Tina in everything they did. Whether it was watching the boys play football or baseball, attending a softball or volleyball game, she was there. Many times she would reminisce about how much fun she had spending time with her kids and how she would rather be downstairs in the basement working on a paper mache’ project, leading a group of bluebirds, or fishing on the banks of Clear Lake in Georgetown, rather than spending time cleaning the house or doing dishes.

Her love for family naturally extended from her children to her grandchildren and grand dogs. Gma, as her family called her, was an enthusiastic participant as a grandma. She willingly and lovingly took part in museum visits, amusement park rides, trips to New York, the Grand Canyon and Washington D.C. and much more. She graduated from Gma to “great” Gma in 2015 with the birth of her first great grandson and relished the sweet time she spent in this role. She also devoted herself to the furry friends of the family, taking great comfort in the companionship they offered – especially Iff Dog, Sonoma, Cheyenne and Moze.

As Jan entered the sunset years of her life, she did not spend as much time with her paints and brushes. Her time was filled with caring for Sonny as he battled pancreatic cancer as well as making many trips to Texas to visit family and friends. When she did complete artwork, many times it was to trade pieces with her granddaughter Landry.

While Jan made many trips to Texas, it was Colorado that always called her home. She loved the glorious mountains and the bright blue sky. Her spirit soared when she was amongst the beauty of the Rockies. The passion she had for the mountains carried over into her own backyard where she and Sonny transplanted aspen trees and toted rocks back from family camping trips to be part of her iconic rock garden.

In the end, Jan’s life on earth would come to a close in Colorado on Saturday, March 5, 2016. Her spirit lives on in the works of art she created as well as the family and friends she has left behind. Jan was proceeded in death by her husband of 44 years, Arnold “Sonny” Stewart; her parents, Mary Lorene and Jack Houston; and her granddaughter, Michaela Stewart. Jan is survived by her children Michael Stewart (Pattie Stewart), David Stewart and Tina Corbett (Matt Corbett), all of Midland, TX; sister Judith Ann Collender of Bothell, WA.; and brother Jack Houston, of Monroe, WA.; uncle Cecil Tompkins of Mission, KS; grandchildren Katherine Stewart, Britton Corbett and Landry Corbett, all of Midland, TX, and Samantha King (Esser King) of Abilene, TX; and great grandson Ezra King of Abilene, TX.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to Foothills Art Center, 809 15th Street Golden, Colorado 80401. Website: foothillsartcenter.org.