With profound sadness, we announce the passing of Janice Elaine (Hagan) Wood, of Joplin. Janice entered into the presence of her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Thursday, June 3. She was born on Feb. 13, 1952, in Warrensburg, the third daughter of V. Juanita (Wharton) and Raymond D. Hagan. Janice attended school in Jefferson City, Missouri, graduating in 1970. She was active in church, gymnastics, and band and was a twirler performing with fire, capes and machetes. She worked as a lifeguard and a swimming instructor for special children. While working three jobs Janice earned a bachelor’s of science in Education in 1973 from University of Central Missouri. She earned a master’s of science in education in Clinical Mental Disabilities from University of Central Missouri in 1978. She continued post graduate studies at University of Central Missouri, University of Missouri and Arkansas State University, obtaining nine certifications in education.

Because Janice was a caring compassionate person, placing the needs of others before her own, she became a remarkable teacher for special needs children. Janice began her career in education at Rolling Meadow School for Severely Disabled

in Higginsville, teaching both home living life skills and in the deaf and blind program. She started the Learning Impairment program for Holden R-3 Schools and wrote federal grants for the district She subsequently taught for Warrensburg R-6 schools in Warrensburg, setting up an award-winning classroom with individualized instruction utilizing learning centers and positive reinforcement strategies. She worked with the Johnson County Sheltered Workshops Board of Directors. Janice taught for Columbia Public Schools and served as principal and teacher for Delmar Cobble State School.

She volunteered as a Special Olympics coach and cheerleader sponsor. Janice moved to Lake Ozark to be instructor and administrator for Dogwood Hills State School serving the Lake Ozark area. She was a realtor for Cliffside Welek Realtors in Lake Ozark and Lodge of the Four Seasons where she held a record for highest sales percentages. She established a business, Professional Cleaning Services, which served the Lake Ozark area.

In 1991, Janice married Jim H. Wood and moved to Joplin, where she taught home bound medically fragile children for College View School for the Severely Disabled, and special education preschool and orthopedically challenged children for Joplin R-8 Schools.

Janice worked for Webb City Schools as a library media specialist in various elementary schools teaching library skills and computerizing media centers. She trained twenty-six future teachers in her classrooms and over fifty interns. She was a golden apple teacher and was awarded a fellowship for graduate studies from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Janice was an educator at heart, kind and loving. One student remembers “Mrs. Wood had time to listen attentively, smile and pray for her students”.

Jim and Janice enjoyed time together serving Christ Jesus, organic gardening, hiking traveling, and their pet cats Willow, Winnie Pooh and Mittens. She was an avid reader, woodworker and painted with oils. Janice frequently rescued pets locating their families or rehoming them. She was known for discerning the needs of others and compassionately helping them in a discreet manner. To all who knew her she was a loving encourager. Her life was a living example of her favorite Bible verse, Ephesians 4:32 -“And be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another, just as God also forgave you in Christ.”

Janice was a long-standing member of Faith Assembly of God Church in Joplin, where she joyfully worshipped and faithfully served her Lord. She was a Bible quiz bowl coach and assisted with children’s ministries. She launched and managed the church library. Janice led an interdenominational prayer ministry for women and led and trained altar workers. A prayer chain grew out of the lady’s prayer ministry. Prayer needs were sent to intercessors across the nation. This grew into an international prayer ministry. The lady’s prayer group sponsored community prayer vigils, healing services and served as intercessors for the John Kilpatrick Ministries’ crusades. Janice authored a book on building a personal relationship with Jesus through prayer, and coauthored two books with her father.

Janice is survived by her devoted husband Jim, a daughter Lisa (Mike) Johnston of Neosho, Missouri and a son Tracy Wood (Laurie Triplett) of Eureka, Missouri, three sisters, Sharon Gonder and Jane (Ron) Burd of Jefferson City Missouri, Kathy (Mike) Kirtley Grant of Louisville, Illinois, one brother Curt Kirtley (Julie) of Columbia, Missouri, four sisters-in-law Doris Thrasher of Santa Clarita, California, Merlene Besh of Celina, Texas, Bonnie Wood of Peoria, Arizona and Mary Davison of Joplin, Missouri and brother-in-law Bobby Hodges of Houston, Texas. Janice was a beloved grandmother to twelve grandchildren and two great grandchildren, and aunt to fourteen nieces and thirteen nephews. She was predeceased by her parents, a nephew Jeffrey Steenburgen. Janice was lovingly loyal to her friends and family. We will always remember her sweet smile, quick intellect, caring heart and unconditional love. Her presence in our lives will be sorely missed.

Janice’s life message is; we are God’s eternal creations, accountable to our loving Lord. She knew that leaving this world allowed her to enter the kingdom of heaven to meet her Savior, Christ Jesus. Janice wanted this message shared at her departure from this world. She leaves an invitation to join her beloved church family at Faith Assembly Church in Joplin.

A private graveside interment was held at Mount Hope Cemetery. Janice requested; “Instead of flowers please do an unexpected and unsolicited act of kindness for someone in need”.

Memorial donations may be made to the library or building fund at Faith Assembly of God Church, East 32nd Street, Joplin, Mo 64804. Cremation arrangements were under the direction of Simpson Funeral Home.