Janice Merrill

Janice Merrill passed away October 18, 2014 at age 89. She was born in Bridgeton, New Jersey, to

Jacob and Lillian Devereaux. She had a brother who was 13 years older and like another father to her, and a sister that passed away before Janice was born. Janice moved with her family to Seminole, Oklahoma, when she was 3 yrs old and lived there until she was 17. In 1943, at age 18, she and her family moved to California. While in California, visiting a childhood friend from Oklahoma, she met the love of her life, Kenneth Merrill, who was in the Navy at the time. They married in 1947 and had just celebrated their 64th anniversary when Kenneth passed away in 2011. During their marriage, they lived in Southern California and raised three children together. Janice loved spending time with her family and friends. She loved music and singing, and she had a beautiful voice. She was very creative and taught herself to sew to make clothing and doll clothes for her daughters and items for her home. Janice worked for the Bank of America, in San Diego, Los Angeles and Long Beach for six years before she married. After her children were grown, she returned to work for the bank another sixteen years in the Fountain Valley branch. She held various positions, including the Trust Department, and when she retired was an Executive Secretary and Authorized Officer. She loved working at the bank, and took great pride in her many achievements. She loved learning and fostered that same love of learning in her children. She made many friends while working and kept in touch with most of them until she died. Janice was a wonderful wife, loving mother, caring daughter and loyal friend. She always made sure to keep in touch with her friends and maintained those friendships for her entire life. Janice loved to meet and get to know new people and always asked them about themselves and often became friends with them. Janice was very patriotic, a member of the "greatest generation", sold war bonds during World War II, and raised her children to be patriotic citizens. Janice accepted Jesus as her Lord and Savior at the age of 15 and raised her three children to know and love the Lord, and follow the "Golden Rule". Her family was the most important thing in her life, and she wanted us always to remain close, as we are now. Her last words to her doctor were, "I love Jesus". Her last words to her family were, "I love you, I don't feel good, I'll see you later!".

Janice is survived by her daughters, Kathi (Craig) and Joanie (Ken) and her son, Jeff (Kelly); seven grandchildren, Amy, Carrie, Jenny, Jake, Kyle, Lauren and Zach; and six great-grandchildren, Ryan, Jessica, Emily, Micah, Noah and Hannah. They were the lights of her life.

We love you and miss you, Mom, Gramma, Great Gramma! "We'll see you later!"