OBITUARY: Nancy Janice Cleek

Nancy Janice Cleek, age 88, resident of Carrier Mills, passed away Thursday afternoon, Oct. 30, 2014, at the Harrisburg Medical Center.

She was born in Carrier Mills on Dec. 25, 1925, daughter of the late Harry and Tekla (Barger) Bennett. She was married to John Ellsworth Cleek on Feb. 28, 1944, and they shared 41 years of marriage until his death in 1985.

She was a member of the Carrier Mills First Baptist Church. Being the widow of a retired Veteran (John) of World War II and the Korean War, Janice had a very special place in her heart for all those who have served and continue to serve this great country. She cherished her close friends and was very thankful for all those who helped her through this year's struggles with her health.

A very special recognition is well deserved for a dear friend, neighbor and Guardian Angel, Marvin Lollar. Marvin was there for Janice on so many occasions when her loved ones could not be due to geographic distance. The entire family is forever indebted to all that Marvin has done for their beloved mother.

She is survived by her six children, Janice Ann Dunlap of Redmond, Wash., Judy Kay (Marty) Silguero of Visalia, Calif., Peggy Jean (Larry) Hagglund of Everett, Wash., Jessica Jo (Mike) Squires of Weston, W.Va., John Harry (Diane) Cleek of Denver, Colo., and James Frederick (Barbara) Cleek of Greenwood, Ind. She is also survived by her sister, Lillian Violet Poyner of Gallatin, Tenn., and her children, Nancy (Larry) Simpson, Sam (Carol) Poyner and Tim Poyner of Tennessee. Also surviving are a sister-in-law, Margaret (Pug) Cleek and children of El Cajon, Calif., Carroll and Kay Bennett of Simpson; nephews, Joe and Paul Lunsford; niece Shelbey Norman of Marion; and many beloved grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Janice was preceded in death in addition to her parents and husband by a brother, Jesse Bennett, and son-in-law, Travis Dunlap.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 6, 2014, at the Absher-Nicholson Funeral Home in Carrier Mills with the Rev. Harl Cockrum and the Rev. Ryan Beck officiating.

Burial will be in the Salem Cemetery in Carrier Mills Visitation will be held from 9:30 a.m. to the service time on Thursday.

The preferred choice of remembrance in lieu of flowers would be memorials in her memory to the Carrier Mills Public Library. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home.