Janis George

A memorial service for Janis J. Welch-George will be held on Tuesday, October 29th, at 11 a.m. in the Chapel at Asbury Church.

Janis Jean Lowder Welch George was born on June 3, 1936, in Wetumka, Oklahoma, to Curtis and Ila (Harlan) Lowder. She passed away on Sunday, October 20, 2024, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, at the age of 88.

Janis graduated from Wetumka High School in 1954. After completing her freshman year at Oklahoma Baptist University, she transferred to East Central University in Ada, where she worked her way through school and earned both her bachelor's and master's degrees in elementary education. During her career, she also pursued advanced coursework in library science at Southwestern Oklahoma State University in Weatherford. Her teaching career spanned thirty-six and a half years in Lawton, Oklahoma, first at Jefferson Elementary, and later at Pecan Grove Elementary. When Crosby Park Elementary opened, Janis made the move there and spent most of her career in its classrooms. While she taught several different grades and even served as a librarian for a year, her favorite was fifth grade. She often said, "Fifth graders are the perfect age-still eager to learn, but not yet big-headed like the sixth graders." She wasn't shy about sharing her opinions! Janis also taught seventh-grade English at Eisenhower Junior High for a few years before retiring in 1993.

Janis was a social butterfly who could strike up a conversation with anyone and, within minutes, learn their entire life story. She had friends from all walks of life and enjoyed a variety of activities, including Book and Play Review, educational sorority groups, and attending musical productions at the Lawton Community Theatre and McMahon Auditorium. She enjoyed working a good Crypto-quote, and much of daily life was worked around a good nap, and Wheel Of Fortune, and Jeopardy.

Her favorite place to be was church. She loved volunteering in the library, singing in the choir, and playing piano for Sunday School classes at First Baptist Church in Lawton. After moving to Tulsa, she continued to participate in as many activities as she could at Asbury Church. The most important part of Janis's life was her unwavering faith in Christ and building her home on a foundation of faith in God-a legacy that continues with her daughters and their families.

The family would like to express their gratitude to all of her dear friends who offered love and support, especially during her battle with cancer. Special thanks go to Dr. Stephanie Harry, Dr. Priyanka Gudoor, Dr. Jason Henderson, and the staff at St. Francis Cancer Center, Hospital, and Hospice.

Janis is survived by her daughters, Ann-Mary Hartman of Tulsa, OK, and Stacy Herring and her husband Pat of Tulsa, OK. She is also survived by her three grandchildren, Jack Hartman, Harper Herring, and Garner Herring, as well as her sister-in-law, Martha Lowder of Little Rock, AR, and several cousins.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her brother Joe Lowder, and her husband, Tom George.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in her name to Asbury Church, Tulsa, or First Baptist Church, Lawton.