Janet L. (Rapson) Davies

Janet Louise Davies, 89, of Sayre, PA, formerly of State College, PA and Ramsey, NJ, went home to be with her Lord on May 6, 2024, at Sayre Health Care Center. “We are confident, and would prefer to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.” (2 Cor 5:8)

She was born on May 28, 1934, in Pittston, PA, the daughter of the late Russell O. and Margaret L. Rapson, Wyoming, PA.

Janet graduated from Wyoming Seminary, Class of 1952. Upon high school graduation, Janet enrolled at Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, in nursing. After her father died suddenly in 1953, Janet transferred, and completed, her nurses’ training at Wilkes-Barre General School of Nursing. She graduated in 1956, and worked for a post-grad year as a medical-surgical nurse at Wilkes-Barre General Hospital. She then started her visiting nurse career in Wilkes-Barre, PA. Janet relocated her nursing career to ophthalmology nursing in Ramsey, NJ after she married the love of her life, William “Bill” L. Davies, Jr. on November 28, 1958.

Janet continued to remain active in leadership roles in the community, which included Girl Scouts, the Parent-Teacher Associations in the Ramsey, NJ public schools, and Pioneer Girls at Hawthorne Gospel Church, Hawthorne, NJ. Janet loved people, and especially enjoyed gathering and feeding friends and family around her table with her dear husband, Bill. With her great smile, and contagious laugh, Janet and Bill would always have their home open to whoever needed a meal and some encouragement. Her love of nursing, her family, and her love of people were evident as she intentionally gave her time and talents to many friends and family through the years.

During their last twenty-six years of their retirement, Bill and Janet remained actively involved in the State College, PA community by volunteering with Meals on Wheels, and Gideon’s International, as well as several of the local church communities. Janet also enjoyed hosting many friends and family for fun and adventure-filled Penn State football weekends with Bill. She also enjoyed volunteering at Promised Land State Park, Greentown, PA, in the natural history museum and during the Civilian Conservation Corps reunions.

Throughout her life, Janet enjoyed watching Penn State football, cheering loudly at Penn State ice hockey games, camping, baking, and gathering friends and family.

Janet lost her dear husband, Bill, in August of 2022, after almost 64 years of marriage. Her only child, Faith, her son-in-law, Rob McClelland, and her favorite grandchildren, Rob, Jr., Grace, Caleb, Joshua, and Naomi McClelland, survive Janet as well as several cousins.

A Time of Visitation for friends and family will be held on Friday, May 10, 2024, from 2:00 to 3:00 pm at the Lowery-Urban Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Inc., 225 South Main Street, Athens, PA. A Celebration of Life Service will follow at the funeral home.

Memorial donations may be made in Janet’s name to Gideon’s International, PO Box 140800, Nashville, TN 37214-0800, www.sendtheword.com or Endless Mountains Pregnancy Care Center, PO Box 42, 26 West Main Street, Canton, PA 17724.

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