Janice was born to Clarence Albert Thomas and Bertha Golden McKinney Thomas on March 15, 1935, in Kansas City, Mo. She grew up on Lawndale Avenue in Historic Northeast. She attended James Elementary School, Northeast Junior High, and graduated from Northeast High School in 1953.
Janice married Edward E. Bailey on June 4, 1954, at her church down the street, Bethany Baptist Church. Janice and Ed raised their two sons, David Eugene Bailey and Jeffrey Lynn Bailey in Odessa, Mo. After retirement, Janice and Ed enjoyed living at the Lake of the Ozarks.
Janice lost her husband Ed in 2001 and son David in 2004. She is survived by son Jeffrey, his wife Donna and their son Amos (Jessica). Also by David’s daughters Amanda, Katie and Kelsey, and great-grandchildren. She is survived by her two sisters, Claudine Thomas and RaeDell Thomas Wiseman, a niece Collett Hemry (sons Nicholas and Douglas Stump) and nephews Brett Hemry (Jenalyn, daughter Francine) and Mark Hemry.
Cremation has been entrusted with the Neptune Society. She will be laid to rest at the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery at Higginsville, Mo., with her husband Ed and near her son David. A celebration of life will be held at a later date.