Janice L Coone went home to the Lord on Saturday morning, August 26, 2023. Janice was born in Atlanta, Georgia, on June 19, 1937, to Julia Jaynalee Lay and Kontz Dillion Lay. As a young girl, Janice resided in Stevenson, Alabama, where her father ran a five and dime store. It was there at the age of eight that Janice accepted Jesus Christ as her savior. She would often say that that was the most important decision of her life, expressing tremendous gratitude for the influence of her parents faith.
Janice's father eventually opened another five and dime store in Blue Ridge, Georgia, where she spent her most formative years. She was an exceptional student and graduated valedictorian of her class in 1955. From there she went to Truett McConnell Junior College in Cleveland, Georgia. While a student there, she met her future husband, to whom she would be married for nearly 54 years. They would go on to have a daughter and a son, Cathryn and Jim. Janice was a dedicated homemaker and mother for many years before she went back to school and earned an RN in 1979 from North Georgia College and State University in Dahlonega, Georgia. She was a nurse for over 30 years, earning a BSN in 1990. Nursing was truly her calling, and she was known for her kindness, attention to detail, and commitment to excellence. Janice was also graced with the gifts of cooking and baking, decorating, gardening, and writing. Her daughter and son-in-law will always remember with fondness the beautiful wedding reception that Janice threw for them.
In the final years of her life, Janice resided in East Ridge, Tennessee, and made many friends after her husband passed in 2012. Those people were guardian angels who showed her a great deal of love, care, and support in her waning years. These memories she treasured. Janice's defining trait was the depth of her faith, which inspired many. In the last three months of her life, she was a resident at Life Care Center of Ooltewah, where she ministered with her kind spirit and brought much love to the staff, always smiling and showing interest in those who took care of her. In that final time she and her daughter Cathryn were blessed to spend much loving time together. Cathryn will carry these warm and tender memories for the rest of her life.
Janice is preceded in death by her husband Jim Garon Coone; son James Lee Coone; sister Mary Truett Marks; and parents Julia Jaynalee Lay and Kontz Dillion Lay. She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law Cathryn Coone-McCrary and Joseph McCrary; grandchildren James Matthew Coone and Maya Mohan; daughter-in-law Sonja Coone; brother-in-law Al Marks; and sister and nephew Dottie Harris and Jeff Harris.

A celebration of Janice's life will be held at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church on Saturday, September 2. Visitation will be from 9:30 AM to 10:30 AM, and services will begin at 10:30 AM. Janice will be laid to rest in Blue Ridge, Georgia, at Chastain Memorial Park.

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Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.pondersfuneralhome.com. Arrangements are by Ponders Brainerd Chapel, 4203 Brainerd Rd Chattanooga, TN. www.selectedindependentfuneralhomes.org and www.ogr.org