JANICE WHITLEY
May 25, 1937–March 25, 2025
The sky was ablaze with red, orange, white and even violet hues. The sun dipped below the horizon as Janice sat in her living room, watching the spectacular drama unfold in the western sky. Every evening she was an audience of one, enjoying the beautiful sunset from her large living room windows. She was never disappointed with the performance.
The sky was clear and warm on May 25, 1937, when Janice was born in Bismarck, North Dakota. The ranchers watched these skies closely as their crops and livelihood depended on that weather. Herman Bahr and Isabel (Grandstrand) Bahr were blessed with their second daughter on that day, six years after Carol, their first daughter was born. Six years later, Dennis, the final child and only boy, would complete the hard-working ranch and farm family.
Janice attended public school in the small North Dakota town of Glen Ullin for the first few years of her education, then transferred to the local Catholic school for grades three through eight. She also started piano lessons at the age of 8, which established a love of the piano and a lifelong passion for teaching, celebrating and worshiping with her music.
After high school in Glen Ullin, where she graduated salutatorian, Janice attended the University of South Dakota in Vermilion from 1956 to 1959 and graduated with a degree in history and a minor in social studies. She also took many Spanish courses while at USD and was hired to teach high school Spanish in Newcastle, Wyoming, in 1959. The young, pretty teacher garnered a fair amount of attention in the small town and soon met Thomas Whitley, a young lawyer and hometown boy establishing a law practice.
Married in 1961, Tom and Janice soon adopted three babies, David in 1965, Annie in 1966, and Michael in 1968. Now a steadfast member of her community, Janice attended Corpus Christi Catholic Church and played the organ in the parish choir loft for more than 20 years. She also participated in local clubs and organizations like Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts, “20th Century,” the Weston County Library Board, and “PEO,” where she was a member for over 50 years.
She loved life in the small Wyoming town and always managed to keep busy. The family lost Tom on Dec. 3, 1993, and Janice became even more busy as she continued to manage his investment interests. Janice loved keeping in touch with her grand kids, Katy, Megan, Kristen, Nicole, Alex and Dani. She was also so proud of being a great-grandmother to Tony and Frankie. Damian and René (married to Annie and Mike, respectively) and Casey (with David) extended Janice’s family and she loved the time she spent with them all.
On March 25, 2025, the sun again dipped below the horizon in the western sky and the choir of colors performed as we mourned the loss of Janice. Surrounded by her family and loved ones, her memory and legacy will continue to inspire and delight. The heavens welcomed her that day, and the choir was, once again, perfect.
Her funeral Mass was conducted on Saturday, March 29, at 10:30 a.m. at Corpus Christi Catholic Church, 19 W. Winthrop St., Newcastle, WY 82701. Interment followed at Greenwood Cemetery, with luncheon immediately thereafter at the church. A vigil was held Friday, March 28, at the same church at 6:30 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Janice E. Whitley Memorial, P.O. Box 477, Newcastle WY 82701. These contributions will be used to benefit the Weston County Library.