Janice J. Downey, 74, of Harrisonville, Missouri was born January 3, 1940 in Maysville, Oklahoma the daughter of Thomas Jefferson Smith and Onie (Givens) Smith. She departed this life Monday, July 7, 2014 at her home surrounded by her family and her dog, Chata. Funeral Services for Janice will be 11:00 a.m. Friday, July 11, 2014 at the Atkinson Funeral Home, Harrisonville with burial in Orient Cemetery, Harrisonville. Visitation 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. Thursday.

Janice was born and raised in Maysville, Ok. After graduation from high school she attended beauty school in Oklahoma City, Ok. She married Jerry Mead, Sr. in 1961 and they had three children, Gena, Jerry Jr., and Corey. They moved to Harrisonville in 1966. After her divorce she worked as a mail carrier and school bus driver. While working at the weigh station she met Joe Downey and they were married in 1981. Janice also worked as a claims examiner for Aetna and GEHA for many years. Before she retired she was the office manager for C&S Flooring. She was also very proud of her Choctaw Native American Heritage.

Her survivors include her husband Joe, Harrisonville, one daughter, Gena Simpson of Harrisonville, two sons, Jerry Mead, Jr. and his wife Cathy and Corey Mead all of Adrian, Mo; one step-daughter, Patty Wagener of Independence, Mo; one step-son, Gary Downey of Haiti; two sisters, Jackie Mulford of Wayne, Ok and Jimmie Church of McAlester, Ok; 11 grandchildren; 8 great-grandchildren; and many other relatives and friends. Janice was preceded in death by her parents; one brother, Valgene Smith; and two step-children, Karen House and Mike Downey.