Janice Laree Willey

Janice LaRee Willey age 81 passed away May 6, 2021 in Riverton Utah.
She was born January 19th 1940 in Dallas, TX to I.J. and Ovesa (Bea) Melchior.
Happily Married on this earth and sealed for time and all eternity to James Alan Willey on May 2nd 1970.
Janice was a certified ceramicist and artist. She operated her own studios in Utah and California for many years. In recent years, she was a volunteer ceramics instructor at several senior centers in the south valley area.
Janice Willey was not just a name but a force to anyone she met. It was fitting that as she left this earth, she would let 2,500 people know by leaving them without power. To all of us it was simply the worst day of our lives! Janice was not only a Wife, Mother, Grandmother, Great Grandmother, Sister and  Daughter, she was your best friend. Reflecting on her life, no one can think of a single thing she would not do for you if you needed it. She was also the essence of “you can do anything you put your mind to”. She could build a house, or drywall a bathroom ceiling holding sheetrock on her head! Finish work,  carpentry, tile, brick, whatever! We used to joke that she was the best son her parents had!
Her heart and soul was in her crafts and ceramics. What is there that she couldn’t do? Everything she touched would become more beautiful. There is nothing she owned that wasn’t dazzled up Janice Style! Give her some gold foil and some bling and she would return it to you as one of her masterpieces.
She loved her ceramics and her favorite part about it was teaching others how to make beautiful things. She would challenge her students to enter in the state fairs and be proud of their work. She personally has won many ribbons and awards.
To our family she was always the best. We will miss her funny catch phrases like “We can’t give you the Willey’s right now” and “make it a great day”.  She was our biggest defender, truest champion, and someone you knew would always be in your corner. There was never a more beautiful, talented, smart, caring, loving woman than the one and only Janice Willey.
Janice is survived by her husband James Willey of South Jordan, her daughters Lori (Mike Christensen), Cheryl (Mike Valley), Cathy Willey, Colleen Willey (Mike Kammerer), Tami Uppendahl (Kelli Greenman), and son Jason Willey (Samantha). Twenty-two grandchildren, twelve great grandchildren, Brothers Alan Melchior (Lydia), and Gary Melchior.
She was preceded in death by her parents I.J. and Ovesa (Bea) Melchior, Brother I.J. Melchior Jr., Son David Larry Loughton, and Son in-law BJ (Blake) Uppendahl.
Funeral Services will be held Tuesday May 11, 2021 at the River 8th ward located at 1239 Country Creek Drive, South Jordan, Ut 84095.  Viewing 11am-1pm, Services 1-2pm
Interment will be at Pierce Brothers Valley Oaks Cemetery at 5600 Lindero Canyon Rd, Westlake Village, CA 91362.
Streaming Instructions:
1. Joining by computer
a. Go to zoom.us in any internet browser
b. Click “join meeting”
c. Enter the meeting id – 8019430831
d. A box will open saying “https://zoom.us wants to open this application”. Click “open zoom”
e. Click “Join with Computer Audio”
f. Click “Mute” in the bottom left hand corner so that your audio does not interrupt the funeral services
2. Joining by phone or iPad
a. Download the Zoom app
b. Open the app and select “join a meeting”
c. Enter the meeting id – 8019430831
d. Select “join without video”
e. Select “Call using internet audio”
f. Select “mute” in the bottom left hand corner so that your audio does not interrupt the funeral services.
Service Information
Viewing May 11, 2021 at 11:00AM - 1:00PM
1239 County Creek Rd, South Jordan, UT 84095





Funeral Service
May 11, 2021 at 1:00PM - 2:00PM
1239 County Creek Rd, South Jordan, UT 84095