Janice Mae Stevens

Janice Mae (McKechnie) Stevens was born in Langdon, North Dakota, on July 18, 1944. Janice went to be with her Lord and Savior Sunday, June 19th, 2022, in Fresno CA, following a diagnosis of a brain tumor called glioblastoma on January 4, 2022, with hospice care at home.

Janice, her parents, and her older siblings moved from North Dakota to Santa Cruz, California, when she was 4 years old. Janice graduated from Santa Cruz High School in 1962. Janice met Jim Stevens in 1963 in the college group at Twin Lakes (Baptist) Church. They married in 1965. In 1976, they settled in Fresno, CA to raise their daughters.

In 1978, Janice collaborated with her best friend, Pat Hunter, to open Gallery II art studio in Clovis. Janice earned her bachelor’s degree in 1991 from California State University, Fresno, then master’s degree in English- Composition option in 1993. After she earned her master’s degree, Janice went on to teach English classes through the State Center Community College district. She taught students on the campuses in Reedley, Madera, Clovis, and Fresno. In addition to her teaching English through the community college, she began teaching in the Clovis Adult School (CAS) older adult program. It was while teaching in this program in 2007 that she was asked to lead a group of veterans at the Clovis Veterans Memorial District (CVMD) in sharing and drafting their stories of firsthand experiences while in service to our country. She led up to 100 veterans every Monday morning for 15 years. During this time, Janice compiled in excess of 100 stories that were published for CVMD in two volumes entitled “Stories of Service, Volume 1,” and “Stories of Service, Volume 2.”

Janice left the school district to lead her own classes through CAS older adult program: Writing for Publication, Memoir Writing, and English Literature. When the CAS older adult program was dropped, she continued teaching weekly classes. Out of those classes, her unique encouragement caused many “non-writer types” and fledgling writers to become published authors. More than 30 of her students have published their memoirs, works of poetry, photography, fiction, non-fiction, self-help, and children’s books.

Janice freelanced writing articles for the Fresno Bee’s Senior Living section that was dedicated to the older adult population. Many of her students were published there as well. Janice wrote monthly features for the Central Valley Magazine. Janice and Pat Hunter collaborated on nine books: To Everything There is A Season (An Anthology of Memoirs) in 1998, Fresno’s Architectural Past in 2006, Fresno’s Architectural Past Volume II, William Saroyan Places in Time in 2008, Breaking Bread with William Saroyan in 2016, Remembering the California Missions in 2010 (now used as a curriculum textbook for California fourth graders), An Artist and A Writer Travel Highway 1 North in 2012, An Artist and A Writer Travel Highway South, An Artist and A Writer Travel Highway 1 Central, and Landscapes and Landmarks of the Great Central Valley in 2020.

Janice was the recipient of the Clovis Unified School District’s Crystal Award in 2007. She received a Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition from Devin Nunes in 2008 for her outstanding and invaluable service to the community. Fresno County Supervisor Andreas Borgeas issued a certificate in recognition of Janice’s reappointment to the Fresno County Historical Landmarks and Records Commission. This certificate commended Janice for her dedication to help improve the lives of people in our community. In 2010, Janice was inducted into the Clovis Hall of Fame for her Literary contribution to the community. In 2014, Janice was the recipient of the Educator Horizon Award from the Fresno Arts Council in recognition of her contributions to the education of our youth in Fresno County. In 2018, she received the History Award Medal from the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) in recognition for her contributions that have significantly advanced our understanding of our nation’s past through the study and promotion of American History. And lastly, in January 2022, she received a CVMD Resolution that recognizes and honors Janice for her work with veterans and their families by touching them with her warmth, knowledge, intelligence, and guidance.

Janice took part in the following community groups: Heritage Fresno, Fig Garden Women’s Club, Historical Landmarks and Records Commission, Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), and Fresno County Historical Society, among others.

Janice was a wife, a mother, a business owner, a teacher, and a friend. She is survived by her husband: Jim Stevens, daughters: Michelle Stevens Welty (husband Mark Picotti) of Clovis CA, Monica Stevens of Fresno CA, and Melanie (Stevens) Maier (husband Lloyd Maier) of Mukwonago WI, her grandchildren: Jim Maier of Mukwonago WI, McKayla Welty and Matthew Welty of Clovis CA, great-grandsons: JR Maier and Jaxon Maier of Mukwonago WI, many friends, and extended family. Her grandparents, parents, adoptive parents, adoptive sister: Denise (Main) Taul, brother: Neil McKechnie, and first grandson: Zachary Stevens preceded her in death and greeted her in Heaven.

A Celebration of Janice’s life will be held at People’s Church, 7172 North Cedar Avenue, Fresno, CA 93720 in the G. L. Johnson Chapel on July 18, 2022, at 11:00 am with a reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Janice’s favorite local charities: Heart of the Horse Therapy Ranch in Clovis, CA, or Hume Lake Christian Camps in Hume, CA, or to your favorite charity.