Janis Dean Sprouse's Obituary
Janis Dean Sprouse, 86, passed away in Tulsa, Oklahoma on January 2, 2025. Born January 10, 1938, in Harrison, Arkansas to Ford and Anna Tinsley, she moved with her parents and older sister Doris to Tulsa during World War II, where her father worked at the McDonnell Douglas airplane factory. After brief stays in Tahlequah and back in Tulsa, the family settled into the Sheridan Road Baptist Church community. It was through this church that she met her future husband, Montie Joe Sprouse, a Navy veteran who had moved from Fort Smith to live with his sister Helen. The couple married on February 10, 1956. After working as an administrative assistant at Sun Oil Company for four years in downtown Tulsa, Janis transitioned to raising their first son, Montie Taylor, born in 1960, along with second son Gordon Wayne, born in 1965. The couple's first home, built with help from her father, was located on 101st between Memorial and Sheridan. In 1969, they moved to their beloved 150-acre farm with a little white house at 171st and Harvard in Bixby. For the next 50 years, until 2017, this farm became the heart of family life, hosting reunions, weddings, Bible studies, birthday celebrations, and even high school float-building projects in the barn. Janis loved to paint, and she found special joy in painting portraits of her grandchildren and beloved pets. She was passionate about horseback riding, often seen riding Dawn with her faithful companions – the family Doberman Bruno or black Labrador retriever Liza – at her side. She enjoyed staying active through softball at family reunions, tennis, and pickle ball, and found deep fulfillment in hosting Bible studies with friends. Her home-cooked meals were a family favorite, especially her baked cinnamon apples and homemade biscuits – skills she humorously credited to her sister-in-law Wanda's early guidance. Janis is proceeded in death by life full of friends and family members, who we believe have received her with open, loving arms. She is survived by her husband Montie Joe; sons Montie Taylor (Mary) and Gordon Wayne (Lori); grandchildren William Andrew (Jayme), Katherine Elizabeth Dowdell (Gabriel) , Morgan Taylor (Clary), and Samuel Blake; and great-granddaughter Charlotte Kay Dowdell. The final chapter of Janis's life brought challenges, including multiple hip surgeries and rehabilitation at Trinity Woods in Tulsa. Through it all, she maintained her determination and grew in her appreciation for life and those who cared for her. Just before her passing, she had made such remarkable progress that she was scheduled to move to a more independent living arrangement. Her family will forever cherish her distinctive way of saying "I know you do" in response to "I love you," her infectious laugh that could be picked out in any crowd, and her unwavering faith. Her profound spiritual wisdom, particularly her belief that "God will claim everyone as his own," continues to inspire those she left behind. Through her life and faith, she demonstrated that God's love transcends our human understanding.
Visitation will be held 5:00 PM ~ 7:00 PM, Friday, January 10, 2025, at Floral Haven Visitation Suites in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma.
A Celebration of Life service will be held 10:00 AM, Saturday, January 11, 2025 at Floral Haven Funeral Home Chapel in Broken Arrow.
Burial will be at Tahlequah City Cemetery in Tahlequah, Oklahoma.
For those who are unable to attend the service in person, click on the following link to watch the service:
https://webcast.funeralvue.com/events/viewer/108394/hash:44C35F81077EF0CF
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