Janice Eileen Sims

Janice Matula Sims was called home to be with her friend and savior Jesus Christ on Thursday, August 31, 2023. She was born November 3, 1949, in West Columbia, TX and raised in Damon, TX on the family’s 80-acre farm. Janice grew up surrounded by family, friends, and animals, and maintained those close ties with all throughout her life.

After graduating from Needville High School in 1967, Janice moved to San Marcos where she studied elementary education at Southwest Texas State University. She graduated and began what would be a 35 year career in elementary education, most of which was right in her home District of Columbia-Brazoria ISD.

Janice moved to Campwood, TX after retiring where she opened her very own antique store and joined a quilting guild that meant the world to her. She made lifelong friends in Campwood. In 2017, she moved back to West Columbia to make her home. She continued to quilt, garden, attend exercise classes, church, and make the most of game nights with her friends-who-are-family.

Janice is preceded in death by her parents Elvin “Bubba” and Elanora Zeman Matula of Damon, TX, and brother-in-law Ramiro “Ram” Reyna. She is survived by her sisters, Jean Matula Paul (Guy) of West Columbia, TX and Cynthia Matula Reyna of Damon, TX, and her brother, Anthony Matula (Sheila) of New Braunfels, TX, her nieces Rebecca Miller Boaz (Jesse), Amy Miller Urbanek (Bryntin), Jenny Paul Kier (Jeremy), LeAnne Matula, and nephew Jarad Matula (Lisa). She leaves behind numerous great and great-great nieces and nephews. She also leaves behind her sweet boys, O.B., Box, and Spot who were so loved, they still don’t know they are cats.

A memorial service will be held Thursday, September 7, 2023 at 11 AM at Bethel Presbyterian Church 119 County Road 300G in West Columbia, TX. A Celebration of Life lunch will be held immediately afterward at West of the Brazos in Damon, TX.

Enclosed in her folder of last wishes she taped a clipping of a quote by Dr. Seuss. “Don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because it happened.”

Blessings,

Jenny Kier

Proverbs 22:6