Martha Janice Thomas

Martha “Janice” Thomas of Bryan Texas died peacefully Sunday February 20 at her home, surrounded by family. She was 84, a lifelong Texan, and a beloved wife, sister, mother, grandmother, aunt and friend.

Janice was born to Jack and Dorothy Davis in Greer County, Oklahoma in 1937. She and her husband John both attended Wellington High School in Wellington, Texas. Her passion for education was fostered by her parents, both teachers, and education was a cornerstone of her life. Janice received her Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from the University of Texas becoming the third generation of women in her family to graduate from college. After college, Janice married John and moved to Bryan where she lived most of her life. Janice and John were long time members of the A&M United Methodist Church.

Janice worked at Texas A&M in the Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, testing for pesticide residues under Dr. Jack Price, later pausing to raise her kids, and then working for many years with her friend Bobbi, at Bobbi’s Bookstore in Bryan. After retiring, she and John held many volunteer positions, hosting international groups for the Agriculture International Program, and spending many hours supporting the Texas Beekeepers Association and ‘manning the booth’ for TBA, where she met many dear and life-long friends. She and John moved to Arbor Oaks in 2014, where she cared for him until his passing in 2020.

Her parents cultivated a love of travel in her and she traveled extensively, making many trips throughout the US and world including a trip to Europe in 2021. She instilled this curiosity and love of travel in her children and grandchildren as well. Janice also has a special place in her heart for education, encouraging all she met to learn and enrich their lives. She always encouraged others to continue educating themselves and supported the education of several family and friends, through private donation and through the fund she endowed.

Janice was always devoted to family. Her lesson by example was always “family is more than who you are related to by blood” and she dearly loved all of her blended and extended family. She taught her children so much about love, family, grace and joy, how to be present, and how to care first about others. She was always ready and willing to travel to assist family and made many trips to help with her grandchildren when needed. By example, she instilled in her children a compassion and respect for others, regardless of their background, politics or where they came from. This love also extended to many lifelong friends, who will miss her warmth and smile.

Janice is preceded in death by her son, Wesley M. Thomas and husband John G. Thomas. She is survived by many loving family members, daughters, son-in-laws, sister, sister-in-law, grandchildren, nieces, grand-nieces and grand-nephews, and many dear friends. Thanks to the many family members, including her grandchildren who made her last few months wonderful by visiting and assisting in her care, and so many wonderful caregivers. A small family service will be held at Arbor Oaks 3pm, Friday, March 4, 2022 Live Stream Service via Callaway-Jones Facebook page begins at 2:55pm, and at a later date followed by a Celebration of Life service for both Janice and John to be scheduled in the late spring/early summer.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be added to the Janice Thomas Student Assistance Fund Endowment which is used as emergency support for students in the College of Education and Human Development at Texas A&M University. Donations can be sent to the Texas A&M Foundation, 401 George Bush Drive, College Station, Texas 77840. Please make checks payable to “Texas A&M Foundation” and designate gifts “In memory of Janice Thomas” in the memo line. Gifts may also be made online by visiting https://www.txamfoundation.com/ and clicking on the “Give Now” button at the top of the page. Please select “The General Memorial” in the “Select a Unit or College” field, and then indicate that the gift is in memory of Janice Thomas. Alternately, donations can be made to a favorite charity.