Janet Marie (Thomas) Elsey

Janet Marie Elsey was a well-loved and exceptional person. She was a daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, aunt and friend.

Born October 23, 1942 to Floyd and Bertha Thomas, she was born and raised in Salem, OR as the youngest of four children. Brother's Jackie (died at the age of 1), Floyd Jr. (Sonny) and sister Betty. The siblings experienced the typical rivalries of a growing family, and also shared much fun and many life experiences over the years.

As a young girl, Janet enjoyed playing and making up games, reading, and spending time with her friends. She was curious about the world around her and eager to explore it.

Janet met and married John Sutton and had three daughter's Sandy, Sheila (deceased) and Sheryl. They later divorced.

Janet was blessed in her life with very close friends. Growing up, Janet had Martha as one of her best friends, and later in life she had Nelda Strickland, Lolly Rickman, Hazel Tusha and family friend Laurie Raanes.

On May 30, 1975 Janet exchanged wedding vows with Eugene (Gene) Warren Elsey at Christian Church of Hillsboro. With her marriage to Gene, she became stepmother to 4 children Eugene Elsey Jr., Verrena, Cheryl and Ed. Empathic and loyal, Janet was committed to making her new family happy. She worked hard to be a good mother to her children and she did her best to fulfill their needs. Another blessing for Janet was the gift of nine grandchildren -- Kris, Jeff, Heidi, Lisa, John (J.C.), Angel (deceased), Cole, Takoda, and Cheyenne -- and step-grandchildren Jackie and Alexa.

In her early years of marriage to Gene, Janet worked for the high school helping in the special education department. After having some medical issues, she stayed home as a homemaker. For a few years, she babysat 3 children that she absolutely adored. She was always available to help relatives and friends by babysitting their children. Janet had a big heart and was always letting different people stay in her and Gene's home to help them out.

In early years before meeting Gene she liked to go to the horse and dog races with her friends Nelda and George. Later she enjoyed bowling on a league, reading, painting ceramics, crocheting, and going to the casino. She liked to watch baseball, football, and basketball with her husband Gene, and for many years she was “Softball Mom” to the girls on the softball team the 'Firecrackers' that Gene coached.

Janet loved to travel, and she enjoyed the familiarity of the Oregon Coast as much as she enjoyed seeing new places. She and Gene explored many, including Hawaii and Germany. She loved to get in the car and go! It could be with anyone...daughters, sister Betty, grandkids or friends, whoever wanted to go. She would take off for the beach or to Washington and if the destination had a casino, even better.

An animal lover who cherished all her pets, throughout the years Janet had parakeets and dogs. She allowed her kids to have rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, and dogs. One of her favorites was a Shelty named Chad that they had for 14 years.

After Gene’s death in 2014, Janet had some medical issues and her daughter Sheryl, son in law John and their children moved in to help take care of her. They took her on trips to the beach and up to Washington to see her other daughter Sandy and even to the casinos. Eventually, she preferred to stay home but loved when people would come over to visit her. She really loved her family and would light up when they walked in the room.

On June 28, 2021, at her home in Hillsboro, Janet peacefully left this world.

Janet Marie Elsey was known as many things to many people. She was a loved one, a friend, and someone special. To family and friends who knew her best, Janet will be remembered as a very exceptional person. Her kind and giving nature made her a vital part of the lives of many family members and friends, and she leaves behind a legacy of life-long friendships and cherished memories. Janet will live on in every life she touched.

Janet is survived by sister Betty Fisher; daughters and son-in-laws Sandy and Vern Kreutzer and Sheryl and John Tunstall; stepson and daughter-in-law Gene and Anne Elsey; grandchildren Kris Kreutzer, Jeff Kreutzer, Heidi Wilding, Lisa Kreutzer, John Tunstall, Cole Tunstall, Takoda Tunstall, Cheyenne Tunstall, Jackie Hughes, and Alexa Elsey; great grandchildren Melvin, Karleena, Layla, Skylar, Cody, Caysen, Fiona, Westin, Charlie, Ashlyn, Emmy, and Alyse; and nieces Debbie Breninger and Diana Fisher.

A service will be held on July 24, 2021 at noon in the Chapel at Skyline Memorial Gardens Funeral Home in Portland, OR, and Janet will rest in Good Shepherd at Skyline Memorial Gardens.

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