Our mother, Janice LaVern Gourdin, was a warm, compassionate and lively woman. She always had a smile on her face that made her very popular with everyone she came in contact with, and it is great evidence of her nature that she has made so many long-standing friendships over the years.
Janice, a faithful servant of our Heavenly Father, was welcomed back into his arms on October 1, 2021 at the age of 95. She was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend. Janice was born on June 9, 1926 in Salt Lake City, Utah, to the late Roy Vernon Knight and Norma Foulger Knight.
She was the oldest of four children – Darrell, Marcia, and Gordon. She grew up in Salt Lake City and completed all of her education there. After graduating from East High School, Janice attended the University of Utah and earned her degree in elementary education. After college, she taught elementary school for a while. She always loved teaching children!
Janice was introduced to Leon Gourdin by Leon’s cousin Ray Brown. Janice lived in Utah and Leon lived in California, and he courted them from afar for three years. She and Leon were married on June 10, 1947 in the Salt Lake Temple.
Janice enjoyed quilting, crocheting Afghans, doing handicrafts, growing roses and collecting cookbooks. She made beautiful porcelain dolls, painted the faces sensitively and made all the clothes. Janice was a master of puzzles. She loved the sense of achievement and has framed many of her favorite puzzles over the years.
Janice loved Christmas and was very proud of her Christmas tree. She loved it so much that she kept it year round while she lived in the Legacy. She loved spending time with her family and close friends. She was the greatest cheerleader for her children and grandchildren.
She was a loyal member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She loved and served her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, in the temple, Primary, Relief Society, and young women.
Janice leaves behind her children: Debra Gourdin Sherwood, Bruce Knight Gourdin and his wife Suzanne, Carol Ann Shurtz and her spouse Stan. She is also survived by her brother Gordon Knight and his wife Kathryn.
Her parents preceded her in death: Vern and Norma Knight, her husband Leon, her son Douglas Walter Gourdin, her sister Marcia Eliason, her brother Darrell Knight and her son-in-law Rand Sherwood.
A celebration of her life will take place on Saturday, October 9, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. at Berg Drawing Room Chapel, 185 East Center Street, Provo, Utah. Friends can call the Provo Mountain Morgue on Friday, October 8th from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm and on Saturday, October 9th from 9:30 am-10:50 am before the service. Burial, Provo City Cemetery. Expressions of condolences can be found at www.bergmortuary.com.
Published by Legacy on October 6, 2021.
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