In Loving Memory of
Janet Gail (Epperson) Nichols
1943 – 2023
Janet Gail (Epperson) Nichols, 79, passed away peacefully at her home in Lenexa, Kansas on Monday, May 8, 2023.
Janet was born on August 10, 1943, in Reno County, Kansas as the oldest of two daughters to Galen and Parkalene (Coffey) Epperson. She graduated from Partridge High School in Partridge, Kansas. She received her Bachelor of Science in Education from the Emporia State Teachers College with an emphasis in Home Economics, and her Master of Science in Education from the University of Kansas. She began her teaching career at Wyandotte High School in Kansas City, Kansas, where she met the love of her life, her husband Charlie. Janet and Charlie were married on December 27, 1967, and enjoyed a very long, happy, loving marriage until her death.
The majority of Janet’s teaching career was spent in Family and Consumer Sciences, taking great joy in teaching sewing and cooking to both junior and senior high school students at Wyandotte High School in Kansas City, Kansas and Hillcrest Junior High School/Westridge Middle School in Overland Park, Kansas. She also served as a school counselor at Central Junior High School in Kansas City, Kansas. She retired from teaching in 1998.
Throughout her life, she took great joy in her family and many friends. Her creativity and exceptional culinary skills made every holiday and family dinner an event to remember. Her amazingly positive outlook brought happiness and joy to everyone she met. Her strength through adversity served as an inspiration to her family and friends.
When she was diagnosed with Sjogren’s Syndrome, very little was known about the disease and little to no resources were available to patients. She spearheaded the efforts to develop the Greater KC Sjogren’s Syndrome Support Network, bringing in physicians and other medical professionals to monthly meetings to educate and inform not only Sjogren’s patients but their families as well.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Galen and Parkalene Epperson and her stepmother, Vada Epperson Lewis.
She is survived by her husband, Charles Nichols of the home, her children Karen (Terry) McAbee of Olathe, KS and Matthew (Enki) Nichols of Lone Tree, CO, grandchildren Michael McAbee, Kansas City, MO, Christopher McAbee, Phoenix, AZ, Jacob Nichols, Seattle, WA, Julia Nichols, Emilie Clements and Erin Clements, Lone Tree, CO, her sister Patti (Steve) Yust, Sylvia, KS and many beloved nieces and nephews.
Services will be held at Porter Funeral Home in Lenexa on Saturday, May 13 at 2:00 pm. Visitation will be immediately prior from 1:00 to 2:00 pm.