Janice Stotts Obituary (1953 – 2023) – Shawnee, OK

Janice Kay (Cooper) Stotts Janice Kay (Cooper) Stotts, of McLoud, OK, handed away peacefully at her residence on January 22, 2023. She was born to Paul and Marjorie (See) Cooper in Neosho, MO, on September 3, 1953, the youngest of their 5 kids. In tough farming occasions, when Janice was 10 months outdated, the household moved to Ames, OK, the place they had been welcomed by household and a neighborhood of unparalleled neighbors. It was within the halls of Ames Public Schools the place Janice was impressed to turn out to be a trainer. Ames was a tiny faculty (15 in her Class of 1971), however excellence was the usual. Ames additionally grew to become the courting place of Janice and John after assembly at a summer time softball sport in Loyal, OK. They had been married on the Ames Church of Christ on August 7, 1971, and celebrated their fiftieth anniversary on August 7, 2021, with a celebration of household, associates and the blessing of the reward of life. Janice graduated with each Bachelor’s and Master’s levels (Summa Cum Laude). She led the commencement procession as Class Marshal at Central State University. In 1974, Janice was employed to show Senior English at McLoud High School. She was 20 years outdated when her Seniors entered her classroom on her first day of faculty. She taught 29 years earlier than her retirement in 2003. Janice noticed the probabilities in all her college students and labored tirelessly for his or her success. She additionally sponsored the Senior Class every of these years with commencement day being the capstone of her college students’ Senior expertise. It was her proudest day of the 12 months, lining up the 2 rows of graduates, ensuring that they had their “one shining moment” marching via the commencement arches. After a quick retirement, Janice labored for 13 legislative classes on the Oklahoma House of Representatives. She was legislative assistant to Representatives Terry Harrison, Ryan Kiesel, Brian Renegar, and with Jerry McPeak for 12 years. Janice grew to like new associates within the Capitol hallways. Her favourite days had been those when she helped the individuals of her representatives’ districts. Janice lived a lifetime of service. She was elected to the Oklahoma Education Association’s Board of Directors, served on the Oklahoma Bar Association’s Client Security Fund and on the Pioneer Library System’s Board of Directors. She labored tirelessly throughout the neighborhood to boost funds for a “brick and mortar” library, which celebrated 25 years of service in May of 2022. Janice careworn the popularity of educational success and was humbled when the annual highschool educational awards had been named the Janice Stotts Letter Jacket program. In her later years of neighborhood service, Janice was impassioned by the mission of the McLoud School Foundation. Her work was instrumental in serving to to boost funds for trainer grants and pupil scholarships, along with rising endowed funds, a long-lasting legacy for the college she liked a lot. Janice liked touring and planning their subsequent journey with Perry and Donna Wynn, sunsets in Maui, her Hazel Dell Road household, and operating the cattle chore route with John within the purple truck. Most of all, she felt blessed by the closeness of her household and regarded ahead to each gathering however particularly their weekly Sunday suppers. Janice was preceded in demise by her dad and mom, her brothers Dan Ray Cooper and Dick Cooper, and brother-in-legislation Phillip Stotts. She is survived by her husband John of McLoud, son John Carl and spouse Stacy of McLoud, Jimmy and spouse Alicia of McLoud, and valuable granddaughter Olivia Kay Stotts. Also surviving her is her sister Louise Maynard (Ron) of Mankato, MN; brother Eddie Cooper (Carol) of Drummond; sister-in-legislation Vicki Cooper of Lubbock,TX. Also, sisters-in-legislation LeeAnn (Rick) of McLoud, Rhonda (Mike) of Newalla, and sister-in-legislation Karen Stotts of Shawnee, along with a bunch of beloved nieces and nephews. The household wish to specific their sincerest gratitude to Dr. Lara Theobald, and all of the medical employees, who helped give her the most effective care attainable and an additional 10 years of life. Funeral service can be held Friday 1/27/23 at 10:00 AM on the Choctaw Church of the Nazarene in Choctaw, OK with graveside service at 3:00 PM on the Ames Cemetery in Ames, OK. In lieu of flowers, the household request donation be made to the McLoud School Foundation-Janice Stotts Memorial Scholarship Fund. Online donations might be made at: http://mcloudschoolfoundation.org Checks might be despatched to: McLoud School Foundation Attn: Janice Stotts Memorial Scholarship Fund PO Box 802 McLoud, OK 74851

Published by The Shawnee News-Star on Jan. 26, 2023.