Janice "Jan" Lavon Pelham

Jan was born in Fort Smith, Arkansas to Ryer Marie Chadwick. She was the oldest daughter of eight children. Jan was a child of the “dust bowl era” and moved with her family to the San Joaquin Valley in the 1950s. She told stories about this time, working the fields, picking cotton and the difficulties they endured but she also spoke about the love that grew deep between her brothers, sisters & their mother.

Jan attended North High School - class of 1958. Jan was not one to stand still and moved across the country & back several times. She loved to sing & sang in several bands from her late teens through her mid 60s. Jan received her cosmetology licenses in the late 1960s and owned two beauty shops, one in Wisner, NE & the other in Bakersfield (C&J’s Country Curl). Jan then attended the KCSO’s reserve academy and worked “extra help” in jail transportation, a job she loved. She worked for KCSO till she finally retired.

Jan became a widow in 1989 and was reunited with a high school crush, Wayne Pelham “Pop” who had also recently become a widower himself. They married in November 1990 and spent the next 30 years together traveling & watching The Wheel of Fortune. Jan was a member of the First Missionary Baptist Church in Oildale.

Jan leaves behind her husband Wayne Pelham. Daughters Lavonne Choate (Richard), Lisa Cates Yoakum (Keith) and Dena Murphy (Dennis). Sons Brian Pelham (Debbie) & Mark Pelham (Kim). Grandchildren Dustin Colbert, Calan Colbert Smidt, William Yoakum, Jacob Yoakum, Cassidy Reimer, Alex Pelham, Bradley Arnold, Mallorie Arnold, Daniel Pelham & Bailie Pelham. Great Grandchildren Tyler Smidt, Lexie Arnold, Jaxson Arnold, Chloe Arnold, Cadence Arnold, Bethany Arnold, Cooper Arnold, Rylee Reimer & Jack Ohanneson. Brothers Daymon Banning(Alice) & Larry Chadwick (Diane) & sister Sharrie Jackson (Charlie), along with several nieces & nephews. She is preceded in death by her mother Ryer, Father Ben Chadwick, brothers Chuck Banning (Myrna) & Thurman Chadwick, sisters Carol Raines (Neal) & Emma Banning.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.hillcrestmemorial.com for the Pelham family.