Janice M. Thornton

Janice M. Thornton, 78, of Sedalia, passed away Saturday, January 7, 2023, at Boone Hospital in Columbia.

She was born at Bothwell Memorial Hospital in Sedalia, MO, December 5, 1944. She is the daughter of Albert and Glenna Reno Davis.

Janice went to Jefferson Elementary School and also Smith-Cotton High School. She worked at Lamy’s (Levi’s factory) for about eight years total, and at Town & Country Shoes for ten years. She decided to change her work and went to work at Mary Cout’s Rest Haven for a while. She then moved to Oklahoma for a while and worked for several nursing homes there, before moving back to the Jefferson City area to work at Chastain’s House of Love for about a year. Then she moved back to Sedalia and worked at Casey’s for one year, at Food Barn for nine years until they closed. Then Woods bought it and she worked for them for nine years.

She has four children, Joyce Davis Wright (Ron), Somerset, KY, Jerry G. Davis (Tammy), of Otterville, Janet L. Davis Sherman (Rodney), of Somerset, KY, and James A. Davis (Marriane), of Sedalia, MO. In December of 1988, she was married to Don Thornton, and he had three children: Donna Jean Thornton Tilman, of Colorado Springs, CO, Sandra Lynn Thornton Rodewald (Chris), of Houston, TX, and Michael Wayne Thornton, of Jefferson City. Janice has fourteen grandchildren: Jennifer Smith, Beth Davis, Chris Davis, Peyton Wright, Ryan Wright (Cierra), Jason Davis, Joshua Davis (Tiffany), Matthew Davis (Amanda), Heather Reed, Nicholas Tilman, Nathan Tilman, Hannah Tilman, Emily Hails (J.D.) and Elizabeth Darby (Brandon); and 25 great-grandchildren.

She is preceded in death two brothers, Melvin Davis and Albert Davis; and three sisters, Lois Seifner, Alberta Ellison, and her twin sister, Joyce, in infancy.

Janice loved going to Nashville, TN. She and Don tried to go there once a year. She loved being around her grandkids and friends. She and Don loved hosting barbecues.

She was a past member of the Eastern Star, a member of the Lady Elks, Women of the Moose and Lady Shriners. She loved going and listening to her husband’s band.

Jan was also known for her homemade pies. Jan baked pies for a restaurant in Jefferson City. She enjoyed sewing, dancing, and listening to country music. She loved to travel. She was known as Mama Jan by many people. Jan didn’t know a stranger and would start conversations with everyone she was around. Anyone that knew Jan would agree that she was a kind and caring person but could tell it straight and like it was.

Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, January 14, 2023, at Heckart Funeral Home, with Rev. Rusty Thomas officiating.

Pallbearers will be Josh Davis, Matthew Davis, Chris Davis, Anthoney Brown, Logan Davis, Jason Davis, and Ryan Wright.

Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Friday, January 13, 2023, at Heckart Funeral Home.

Memorial contributions are suggested to Shriner’s Hospital for Children.