Janice Elaine Mahr passed away suddenly while on vacation in Flagstaff, AZ, on April 30, 2019. She was born May 24, 1952, in Grand Rapids, MI, and adopted into the family of Janet and Earl Phillips. Her father was a World War II Veteran of the North Africa Campaign.
After graduating from high school, she attended Western Michigan University and graduated with a BS degree in Social Work. Janice did some intern work in the Kalamazoo Juvenile System, and then got a job with New Horizons Youth Ministry in the Dominican Republic. It was there, she met her future husband, Steve. After returning to the USA, she and Steve were married and lived in Battle Creek. Wanting to be a stay at home Mom, she went back to work after the children were in school at the Dairy Queen and later at Meijer’s, where she retired from in 2017.
Janice’s interests included knitting, crocheting, sewing and photography. She was known to make custom birthday cards and calendars for her family from the photographs she had taken. She also liked attending NASCAR races with her husband of 41 ½ years.
She was a woman of faith and attended Immanuel Reformed Church while growing up and served on a summer mission trip to California to help with Vacation Bible School programs. After her marriage, she became a member of Battle Creek Bible Church and served in many programs there. She was baptized in a river in the Dominican Republic.
Janice had a heart for helping people and volunteered in many situations including; youth group leader in Battle Creek Bible Church, volunteer cooking staff at Camp Barakel, a Brownie Girl Scout Troop, and during the SEAK Program at Lakeview Schools, where she taught an after school program called Cooking A-Z at Praireview School. She was fond of her nickname, “Mrs. Marshmallow”.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Janet and Earl Phillips. Janice is survived by her husband Steve, children; Samuel and Sarah (James) Edwards, and brother, Doug (Tena) Phillips. Last September, she adopted a comfort dog from the Humane Society who was her constant companion, Weezy brought her great joy.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Janice’s name to Battle Creek Bible Church, 567 Territorial Rd., Battle Creek, MI 49015 or Camp Barakel, P.O. Box 159 Fairview, MI 48621.