Wilma “Janice” LeForce
1929-2021
Wilma Janice Brewington LeForce, 91, of Edmond, Oklahoma, passed away on July 23, 2021, at her home after a long illness. She was born on her family farm near Alden, Oklahoma, on September 25, 1929 to Earl and Myrtle Brewington.
Janice attended school in Alden, Oklahoma and graduated from Alden High School as Valedictorian in 1947. Janice loved sports. In high school, she was on the softball team and she started all four years on the high school basketball team. At Oklahoma A&M, she played on her dormitory intermural girl’s basketball team. The team was intermural girl’s basketball school champion in 1948. Her love of sports continued throughout her life whether it was listening to baseball games on the radio or shooting hoops with her son and grandsons. She had OSU season tickets for many years and especially loved cheering on her OSU Cowboys.
Janice was an excellent seamstress and loved sewing for her home and family. As a student, she was active in 4-H Club and earned many awards. She represented Caddo County in the Oklahoma State Round Up at Oklahoma A&M College as the 4-H Dress Review participant for dresses and tailored suits. She volunteered with 4-H Club throughout her adult life.
While attending Oklahoma A&M College, Janice met Jack Douglas LeForce. They were married in Fort Benning, Georgia on March 31, 1951. She later earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Home Economics in 1951 from Oklahoma A&M College. During the early years of her marriage, Janice and her family lived on ranches in California and Arizona. The family spent 12 years on the 26 Bar Ranch in Arizona owned by actor John Wayne. She assisted her husband Jack who was manager of operations for the nationally recognized ranch. In 1976, Jack and Janice returned to Oklahoma and made their home in Edmond, Oklahoma.
Janice was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother. She was a remarkable cook and was known for her angel food cakes, a favorite of her grandsons. Chocolate chip cookies would welcome her children home from school, home made candies to celebrate the holidays and canning vegetables grown in her garden. Janice loved the outdoors and took a special interest in gardening both in her yard and on their Perry, Oklahoma family farm.
Janice is survived by her husband of 70 years, Jack D. LeForce, her daughter, Jacquetta LeForce of Edmond, Oklahoma, her son, John LeForce and his wife Becky of Edmond, Oklahoma, three grandsons, Blake LeForce and his wife Hannah of Denver, Colorado, Connor LeForce of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma and Walker Bartol of Edmond, Oklahoma and numerous nieces and nephews. Her parents, E. Earl Brewington and Myrtle W Brewington and her only sister, Thelda Harris, precede her in death.
Family visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Friday, July 30, 2021. A funeral service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, July 31, 2021 at Matthews Funeral Home, 601 S Kelly Avenue, Edmond, OK 73003. Graveside service to follow at Gracelawn Cemetery.
Memorial donations may be made in the name of Janice LeForce to:
Oklahoma 4-H Foundation: 205 4-H Youth Development Building, Stillwater, OK 74078-6063 ; oklahoma4hfoundation.com
or
The Alzheimer’s Foundation, on the Wilma Janice LeForce Tribute page at the link below.
My aunt, Janice, was a beautiful and sweet person. She was a great cook. A most remarkable trait, was that she could remember birthdays, anniversaries, and other dates, when the rest of us could not. When I think of her, I’ll always the sweet smile she gave me when I went to visit her the last time plus the sweet smile when I left. Love, Gennie
GREAT & FOND MEMORIES OF MY DEAR FRIEND, JACQUETTA’S MOTHER—
ALWAYS POSITIVE & SMILING! I REMEMBER HER LAUGH AND FRIENDLY,
LADY-LIKE CHARM! I PRAY HER BEAUTIFUL SOUL WILL REST IN PEACE!
MY DEEPEST SYMPATHY TO JACK AND HER ENTIRE FAMILY!
Leanne Galloway-Waddell