Washington, Utah – Janice Leigh Johnston Thorley died in the arms of her husband in their home in Washington, Utah in the morning hours of January 12, 2025, after a two-decade battle with chronic gastrological and neurological illnesses. She was 71 years old. Up until the end, Janice maintained her kindness, compassion, love of family, and gratitude for life.

Janice was born August 31, 1953, in Livingston, Montana, the oldest child born to Jerroll Russell Johnston and Josephine Lee Simonson Johnston. Janice was blessed with a caring disposition and heart for serving others. As the oldest daughter with two younger brothers, Jeffrey and Jay, she sought to nurture, lift, and love in every circumstance. During her childhood, she lived with her family in Livingston, Montana; Boise, Idaho; and Pacific Palisades and Woodland Hills, California. One of her best childhood friends was the daughter of actor Don Knotts and she would tell wonderful stories about spending time in their home. After her parents' divorce, her father married Betty Peterson, a widow with four daughters, and they created a real-life Brady Bunch. When Janice was 15, she, Jeff, and Jay began attending early morning seminary classes with their stepsister Chris and subsequently all three chose to be baptized a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Janice always had a love of children. In high school, she and a friend started a childcare business, so when she attended college at Brigham Young University (BYU), it was the natural choice for her to seek a Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood Education with a 5-year teaching certificate (which was required to teach in California at the time).

While attending BYU, Janice met Matthew Thorley in a family home evening group in their student ward. It was not love at first sight. Janice was annoyed with Matt and would have nothing to do with him the first semester despite them seeing each other every Monday night for their family home evening activity. However, during the Christmas break when Matt had an extra ticket for a basketball game, he called the apartment to see if any of his family home evening "sisters" would like to go with him. Janice was the only one at home and reluctantly decided to go with him. The evening went remarkably well - for the rest, as they say, is history. The two were married and sealed for time and all eternity in the Los Angeles temple on November 27, 1976.

As newlyweds Matt and Janice continued to attend BYU until Janice completed her schooling, and then she supported Matt while he obtained his degrees. During that time their daughter Tina Renee was born. After moving to Texas for Matt's employment, Wayne Jerroll was born in Houston and Brandon Theon was born in Galveston. In 1985 the family moved to Las Vegas, Nevada where they lived and raised their children for the next 38 years. Though none of the children were born in Las Vegas, they all claim it as their home.

Janice was always engaged with her children and organized or volunteered in whatever activity they were involved in. She knew and loved all their friends and was always driving, feeding, and spoiling them all.  When all of her children were in school, she started working as a waitress at a local restaurant owned by friends in the ward. The job was flexible, and she was able to work around her family's schedule, so she didn't miss a thing. She fell in love with this job – or rather the people with whom she worked as well as her many regular customers – and she did it for 20 years.

Janice actively participated in the church and served in several Primary, Young Women, and Relief Society presidencies as well as a variety of other callings. Regardless of the assignment, she was organized and took her responsibilities seriously and fulfilled them with cheerfulness and dedication. When put in charge of organizing the church building cleaning, she made it fun by hiding prizes for the children to find while they served. Janice had a deep and abiding testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ and put its principles into action in every aspect of her life.

There are many who claim Janice as a close friend, and that is because she easily built close relationships.  Her compassion knew no bounds, and just as the Savior, Jesus Christ, she extended kindness to any and all. She loved people and it was not uncommon for her to befriend a lonely customer from the restaurant or someone the family didn't know well, invite them over for dinner, and subsequently involve her family in finding ways to get to know and help them in any way they needed. She loved to entertain and was an excellent cook. A large meal for many people never phased her and she was especially good at feeding teenagers. Her annual scone eating contest at the Thorley family reunion was something her nieces and nephews always looked forward to.

Janice kept a beautiful, welcoming home and was always happy to host overnight guests. She loved decorating, and her home was filled with items she made or that reminded her of joyful memories and relationships. Janice rejoiced in being a grandmother to Alysson, Carson, Viktoriya, Lucas, Kellen, Kensington, and Logan. She looked forward to any time she got to be with her family. In October 2023 Matt and Janice sold their home in Las Vegas and relocated to a new home in Washington, Utah.

In addition to loving people, Janice had great affection for her dogs! Everyone who knew her knew of her love for her dogs. Over the years, the family shared many adventures and memories with Alphie, Brandy, Scamp, Licorice, Oreo, Paint, Odie, Gussie, Dexter, and Libby. She was especially thrilled when Oreo had two litters of puppies. Janice was the best dog mom and spoiled her pups as much as her grandchildren.

Since 2004 when she had a stomach tumor removed, Janice suffered from chronic gastrological and neurological issues. She had multiple surgeries for a variety of health problems, but through it all she maintained faith that she would get better and back to normal. While she suffered with medical complexities until the end, it is a great comfort to know that she is now free of those physical problems and is reunited with her parents and brother, no doubt searching out those she doesn't know and finding ways to serve them.

Janice is survived by her husband of 48 years, Matthew Thorley; their three children, Tina Bonett (Stephen) Colorado Springs, CO; Wayne Thorley (Portia), Carson City, NV; and Brandon Thorley (Sabrina) Las Vegas, NV; their seven grandchildren, Alysson, Carson, Viktoriya, Lucas, Kellen, Kensington, and Logan; brother Jay Johnston; and stepsisters Becky Boyd, Janet Sandor, and Chris Workman. She is proceeded in death by her parents, stepmother, brother Jeffrey Johnston, and stepsister Tracy O'bray.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, January 25, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. in the Boulder Ridge East Stake Center, 450 West 3650 South, Washington, Utah (adjacent to the Red Cliffs Temple). A visitation will be held Saturday, prior to services, from 9:45 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. at the Stake Center.

Following the service, all family and friends are invited to a luncheon in the cultural hall.

Graveside services will be held on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. in the Cedar City Cemetery, 685 North Main Street, Cedar City, Utah.