Janis Louise Imotichey

Janis Louise Imotichey, 84 of Tishomingo, passed away on Thursday, September 28, 2023 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Janis was born on October 1, 1938 in Claremore, Oklahoma to Walter and Josephine (Alexander) McHenry. Janis grew up in Broken Arrow, OK and attended Broken Arrow High School. She attended Southeastern Oklahoma State University and Oklahoma Presbytery College (OPC) in Durant, OK. She obtained her Master’s degree at East Central University in Ada, OK. She married Jerry Imotichey on February 9, 1960 in Oklahoma City. Jerry and Janis made their home in Fillmore where they raised 4 daughters. Janis not only had a career as mother to four daughters but also as a special education teacher at Byng Schools and as a coordinator with the Department of Indian Education. Along with her career as mother and educator she spent her life serving in the churches she attended. Janis’s parents taught her the importance of a life serving the Lord, so Janis spent most of her childhood on the church grounds of Broken Arrow Indian Methodist. As a young married couple, Janis served along with Jerry at Sandy Creek Presbyterian in Fillmore. In the late 1980s, Jerry and Janis became two of the founding members of Freedom Fellowship Church. Janis served Freedom until her homegoing. Everyone always received an overflow of love and blessing that could only come from a life lived serving Jesus. Janis always took pride and joy in her nieces and nephews. She loved them all and always prayed and cheered them on. Always taking the opportunity to teach, even when sharing a cup of tea with her great-great niece Viola. Viola might have thought it was playtime but mom always knew it was an opportunity to teach about Jesus. “Her children rise up and call her blessed.” Proverbs 31: Her children, grandchildren and great grandchild were her heart and their lives have been blessed because of the honor she has shown to Jesus. Janis loved to hear singing and preaching in her Muscogee Creek language. She would say “I didn’t understand most of it, but I felt the Lord when I heard it!”. Janis’s life was a Christ filled life; she would say “You can never fail when you follow Jesus with your whole heart. Jesus is worth it all!” Those she leaves to cherish her memories are her children: Jana Imotichey, Tishomingo; Julie Imotichey, Fillmore OK; Jeri Moore and Shawn, Fillmore, OK; Jerry Arterberry and Deborah Ann, Madill OK; grandchildren: Joel Dameron and Brooke, Tishomingo, OK; Jonas Burns and Rosiemae, Tishomingo, OK; Chandler McCormick and Devon, Madill OK; Paxton Arterberry and Brandy Goodin, Madill OK; Maya Moore and Jodie Caston, Tishomingo OK; Madison Moore, Fillmore OK: great grandchildren: Minkoshi` Dameron, Tishomingo; one brother, Chuck McHenry and wife Doll, Broken Arrow, OK; one sister Teena Boyce, Broken Arrow OK; numerous other family members whom she loved so much. She was preceded in death by her husband, Jerry Imotichey; daughter, Joni Imotichey, great grandson, Sullivan Dameron; her beloved parents, Walter and Josephine McHenry; brother, Ronald and wife, Martha McHenry Funeral services will be held at 10:00 AM Monday, October 2, 2023 at Calvary Baptist Church in Tishomingo, OK. Interment to follow at Sandy Creek Cemetery in Fillmore, OK. Family hour will be held from 5:00 – 7:00 PM Sunday, October 1, 2023 at DeArman-Clark Funeral Home. Those serving as pallbearers are Kyle Yochum, Kyle Littlehead, Chris Littlehead, Jody Caston, Jeff Alberson, Miko Brandon. Honorary Pall Bearers: Jimmy Yochum, Greg Hughes. Special Sisters in Christ: Leona Wilson, Betsy Imotichey, Rebecca Yearby, Almeda Vinson, and Linda Moore. In lieu of flowers we would like to ask that donation be made to Freedom Fellowship Church “In memory of Janis and Jerry Imotichey”. This will be a start to establish a memorial fund to be used to assist students attending bible college or seminary to pursue their call to follow Jesus. Checks can be mailed to: Freedom Fellowship Church PO Box 155 Milburn, OK 73450 With special thanks and so much love to the following: Calvary Baptist Church, Sandy Creek Presbyterian Church, Freedom Fellowship Church, My Tish Prayer Ladies 😊

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Janis Louise Imotichey

October 1, 1938 - September 28, 2023