Janice Anne Vardeman Turk

Janice Anne Vardeman Turk

(April 5th, 1955 - January 3rd ,2026)

Janice Turk of Belton, TX passed away Saturday, Jan 3rd at home with Rick, her husband of 33 years.

Services will be Saturday, Jan 10th at Vista Community Church in Temple, TX. Open visitation from 9:00 A.M. - 10:00 A.M. with a service at 10:00 A.M.

Janice was born April 5th , 1955 in Waco, Texas to Gene and Hazel Vardeman. 

Janice grew up loving Joe Namath, and Three Dog Night. Janice was 9 when sister Karen was born and 11 when sister Krisanna was born. She loved being the big sister even as adults. Janice attended Richfield HS and Stephen F. Austin Univ. 

After college, with her friend Iris Clark, Janice started Total Placement, an employment Agency, which they later sold. Janice then joined Word Records. Janice and Rick were both single parents when introduced by Martha Obern in 1991, and then they were married on April 11 th , 1992. Janice’s daughter Samantha was the Maid of Honor and Rick’s son Travis was the Best Man. They lived in Hewitt, Tx until they moved to Salado, Tx in 1997. At First Baptist Salado, all four of them were baptized together in the Salado creek. Janice worked with Rick in a business together before she opened a gift shop in Salado named “Anthony’s” after her grandson. She closed the gift shop and joined Scott and White Hospital in 2007. She spent most of her time there working in the Graduate Medical Education (GME) department, where she made friends with a med student who later became Dr. Bansal, her oncologist through her battle with cancer. Janice finished her career as a Senior Executive Assistant in the Baylor Scott and White executive offices. Her favorite part of that position was being able to park next to the door of the office. (No more long walks or shuttles in the rain). Janice retired in 2021 and although she loved working at Scott and White, she had a daily countdown board in her kitchen at home that she updated every single day, for a whole year.

Janice loved retirement and she loved people. Retirement let her spend more time with more people in more places. It has been said that, that if you have 3 really close friends in your lifetime, you are blessed. Janice had more than 20. Many women have claimed to be Janice’s best friend and they are all correct. Janice had a gift of making you feel like you were the only one that mattered. Janice met Celia in 2nd grade and soon after met Marsha and Patty. That’s 63 years ago. That group still meets quarterly and this past June they all took a trip together. In 1989 Janice started a Bunco group in Waco, and they refer to Janice as the “Founding Mother”. The whole idea was to keep friends together. They still meet once a month and now are in their 38th year together.

Janice loved arts and crafts and decorating, and was always making something beautiful. A few years ago she started a business making and selling wreaths until the demand for her work exceeded her willingness to fill the orders. She decided she liked it better when she could create at her own leisure.

Janice loved lifetime movies, and anything Christmas, all year long. But mostly, she loved shopping. Nothing she loved more than to travel and shop with friends, but to Rick’s dismay one day she became really close friends with someone named Amazon………... Rick believes that the Amazon Headquarters must have a mural of Janice in the lobby to honor her as their #1 customer. For Janice it was like Christmas everyday to have a gift (or more) show up on the front porch, and no one had better open that package, except Janice!

When Janice first found out she had cancer she never cried. She said, “everyone gets cancer and I guess it’s my turn”, and she dealt with it. Janice was on Hospice at home, which was a choice she made, and up until her last breath, she never complained. Not once.

Janice was an incredible woman and we are all better from having known her. She will be missed by all of us, and we can only imagine the excitement in Heaven, since she arrived last Saturday morning.

Janice was strengthened and encouraged by JOSHUA 1:5 I WILL NEVER LEAVE YOU OR FORSAKE YOU.

Survivors include Husband Rick Turk, daughter Samantha Jimenez, of Belton, stepson Travis Turk of Ft. Collins Colorado, sister Karen Neal and her husband Chuck of Hewitt, sister Krisanna Byars and her husband Allyn, of Arkansas. Four Grandchildren: Anthony Bruce and his finance Phyllis Shaffer, along with Hamilton, Raylan, and Tennessee Huges, as well as many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

In lieu of flowers, Janice has requested that donations be made to Children’s Advocacy Center of Central Texas. 402 N. Main, Belton TX 76513 or online at CACCT.com/donate.

A very special thanks to Dr. Bansal and his team, Dr. Bacon and his team, the Amedisys Hospice Team, and Visiting Angels, for their loving care and support.