Janice Lucile Thimgan Parker

passed away on June 24, 2012 at 2:15pm at her home on Bainbridge island with her son and daughter, grandsons and two sisters Rose and Pat.She was born in Orchard, Nebraska on November 20, 1939 to Harlan L. Parker and Evelyn Lucile Stootsberry and was later adopted by Theodore Stootsberry. Janice had previously lived in Ashland, Nebraska, Phoenix, AZ, Santa Clara, CA, Los Gatos, CA, Palo Alto, CA and finally Bainbridge Island, WA where she lived for the last 28 years. She went to grade and high schools in Ashland, Nebraska, modeling school in Nebraska, recieved a Certificate of Interior Design and attended West Valley College, Saratoga, California 1976-1980.She was a member of the Montalvo Center for the Arts, Art and Ceramic Studies, Saratoga, CA, participant in the Multi-Design Exhibition City of San Jose, CA, and participated in many projects throughout the Bay Area (1980 to 1983). Janice worked in the realestate and lodging industries. She was awarded the Top Sales Agent in Real Estate Sales with John L. Scott and was also awarded the NW Best Lodging Business. Jan was previously, president of the Lodging Association of Bainbridge Island, she also was in church choirs from early childhood as she loved to sing! She was a member of the BI Chamber of Commerce, Kitsap County Wildlife Conservatory, and the BI Photo Club.Jan assisted with the interior design of the new Island Church Worship Center on Bainbridge Island. She had an artistic eye, consulted and helped people with colors, home staging, design and space planning. She provided a beautiful place for people to stay at her Guest House & Retreat. She also was a ceramic artist, and an amazing photographer. She was a Christian, spirit filled, and faithful woman. A true child of God. She is survived by Matthew David Thimgan, Son, Suquamish, WA, Kristin Ann Sheets, Daughter, Bainbridge Island, WA, Rose Marie Sipe-Hoeppner, Sister, Omaha, Nebraska Patty Hageman, Sister, West Plains, Missouri, Tom Stootsberry, Brother, Lincoln, Nebraska, Grandsons: Andrew Jack Sheets and Tyler David Sheets, also her niece Wendy Elise Hageman, Arkansas, cousins: Kirk and Kevin Sholes, O'Neil, Nebraska and her previous husband: David Charles Thimgan of Elk Grove, CA. She had so many innumerable friends who's lives she touched. Jan considered them all family. She was preceded in death by her parents: Evelyn Lucile Stootsberry, Theodore "Ted" Stootsberry, Harlan L. Parker, Father, uncle Franklin Parker, Grandparents Amelia Margarerite Krueger-Moore, Harry T. Moore, Dottie Dee Moore-Sholes and Gordon "Bud" Nels Sholes.Family and friends are respectfully invited to attend the Memorial Service on Saturday, July 7th, 2012 at 2:00pm at Island Church on Bainbridge Island, WA. In lieu of flowers charitable contributions, can be made to: "The Kathleen Sutton Inspirational Fund", Kingston, WA, Hospice of Kitsap Country, Swedish Cancer Institute, Seattle, WA, and Northwest Hope and Healing Foundation Fund, Seattle, WA. Please sign the online Guest Book for the family.Comments From The Family:Janice Parker was a wonderful mother, dearest friend and always gave unconditional love. She raised her children to be soldiers of God. She was a spirit filled woman with faith that could move mountains. Jan always had a warm smile and just knew what to say to comfort and be your friend, mother and grandmother, no matter the circumstance.Through her journey of cancer she always had a smile on her face and always was helping someone. She was such an inspiration to others of her faith and courage. Years ago Jan loved to play tennis with friends in Los Gatos, CA. She loved to work with colors, interior designing consulting, and just making a special home to share with others. She was a ceramic pottery artist molding clay into something always beautiful and useful. She loved to play the piano and was learning to play again through her cancer journey. She loved music and had a beautiful voice! She used her singing talent to worship God with such pleasure. She loved to sing with her daughter; "I have Joy, Joy, Joy down in my heart, down in my heart, I have Joy, Joy Joy down in my heart to stay!" Her love to garden always crafted something beautiful and artistic. She also had a passion for photography and was so very gifted in taking that "perfect shot" to the cringe of her grandchildren during those family gatherings. All her pictures are so breathtakingly beautiful no matter what she was capturing. It was that artistic eye of hers that she was able to capture the most beautiful moments with perfect composition and color in her camera lens. She loved to cook, not so much in her last year but she did know how to cook and passed on many of her recipes for generations to be fat and happy. Thanks for being a great teacher mom!Both her children, Matt and Kristin would like to say to all that "Our dear, gracious, and loving mother went home to meet and be with our Lord and Savior June 24th, a sunny and beautiful Sunday afternoon". She was escorted by an entourage of angels, met Jesus personally, and is now experiencing joy we can only begin to imagine. Our brothers and sisters, you will be comforted to know as her family was, she left very peacefully with all the beauty and grace we all knew of our mom. We were with her as she made her passage and she acknowledged each and every one of us before departing. She left us with that comforting smile we knew and loved.Jan's Son, daughter, and family want to thank you, each and every one of you, for your steadfast prayers, love, and endearing care for our mother during this three and a half year fight. She has now won the battle! She is finally able to have that perfect relationship with our heavenly Father she could only pray about before.We love you all Mom, Grandma, Sister, Friend, Partner, and of course Dog Sitter, (she just loved Yukon). You will be deeply missed, oh so missed, but we are all rejoicing that you are now in heaven. We all will miss your smile, friendship, hugs, and comforting love. You had a very special touch and you were so sweet, a truly wonderful woman and human being. Good bye for now Mom, until we are reunited at that great Family Reunion we are so faithful for.We love you all.We Are Comforted By:"His Lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord." (Matthew 25:21)"I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die." (John 11:25-26)"For we walk by faith, not by sight: We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord." (2 Corinthians 5:7-8)"He personally bore our sins in His (own) body to the tree (as to an altar and offered Himself onit) that we might die (cease to exist) to sin and live to righteousness. By His wounds you have been healed." (1 Peter 2:24 AMP)"For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."(Romans 6:23)"O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." (1 Corinthians 15:55-57)"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." (2 Corinthians 5:17)"I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ's sufficiency]" (Philippians 4:13 AMP)