Janice Lurine Bovee

One evening when Dad was visiting New York, we dined out in style at a Greek restaurant, Molyvos, and between courses I quizzed him about his family. We talked about his father's many brothers and sisters, most of them Dad never met, and I realised that though we assumed all had long since passed away, his youngest sister Janice, born in 1926, may still be living. I decided to make it my mission to find her for him and get us together if possible.

Well thanks to my friend Charles who is a professional genealogist, we located her this week. Charles found an obituary in a Wisconsin newspaper and I nearly fell off my chair when I noted the date. She died just six weeks ago on July 29th... the day we had dined at Molyvos.

She was the last of her generation on both sides of Dad's family and it's ever so disappointing to think if we'd looked just a few months ago we might have been able to meet her. Though sadly the irony is without her obituary we probably wouldn't have found her. However, all is not lost. As you will read below, she had eight children (eight cousins for my Dad!), grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and I shall track them down and make friends with them.


Janice Lurine Lawton, Orfordville (1926 - 2008)
February 15, 1926 - July 29, 2008Janice Lurine Lawton, 82, passed away Tuesday, July 29, 2008, in Collinwood Elder Care, Orfordville. She was born on Feb. 15, 1926, in Medford, WI, daughter of George and Lillian (Brown) Bovee. She married Leonard Revels on June 20, 1944. Leonard was the father of her children. She married Floyd Johnson in 1957; he passed away on July 20, 1980. She married Bernard Lawton on Feb. 9, 1985; he passed away on July 21, 2000. Janice was a nurse and caregiver. As a resident at the Garden Court Apartments, she was very active setting up activities and music for all residents. She enjoyed crocheting, reading, talking on the phone, playing cards and other games, and spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.She is survived by her sons: Paul "Bud" (Caroline) Revels of Footville, Ronald (Christine) Revels of Twin Falls, ID, Larry (Darlene) Revels of Mauston, and Jim (Penny) Nielsen of Sioux City, SD; daughters: Roberta (Mike) Kemper of Beaverton, OR, Cynthia (Roger) Williams of Byram, MS, Barb Augustin of La Place, LA, and Sandy (Fred) McKillips of lola, WI; grandchildren; great-grandchildren; and great-great-grandchildren.She was preceded in death by her parents; husbands; and a grandson, Ryan McKillips.