Janice Mae (Dowers) Fleming
Obituary
JANICE MAE FLEMING OBITUARY
Janice Mae Fleming, age 85, passed away at her home in Klamath Falls, Oregon on August 22, 2023.
Janice was born to parents Glenn and Irene Dowers on March 11, 1938 in Caldwell, Idaho. After farming in Nyssa, Oregon from 19371947, the Dowers family moved to Madras, Oregon. Janice graduated from Madras High School. Afterwards she attended Oregon State University at Corvallis, Oregon.
She then moved to Portland, Oregon to work at a Tall Woman's Store, later becoming the Manager. At 5' 11", she was a statuesque, beautiful woman who always looked perfect, whether she was driving a tractor or going to a formal dinner party.
After farming in Madras on the Agency Plains until 1957, her father went to work for Farm Bureau Insurance as a claim adjustor. Janice's parents then moved to Klamath Falls, Oregon where her father worked at the local Farm Bureau office. At the office, Dot Am Fleming was his secretary. She introduced Janice to her brother Dale. They were married on February 16, 1959.
From that moment on, Dale and Janice farmed side by side. Janice liked to reminisce how she had carried as many as 25 — 2" siphon tubes on her back across the potato rows to irrigate. While harvesting potatoes, Dale drove the bulker, and Janice drove the potato trucks under the boom. Dale didn't need to tell her where to move to load the truck. She knew exactly how to load it without directions. For many years they loaded potato trucks together with truck drivers bringing empty trucks to her to load in the field.
Janice was involved in the Klamath County Republicans Women's group for many years.
Janice served on the Klamath County Fair Board from July of 1979 — December of 1988. In January of 1983 Jan was appointed the Fair Board Chairman and served as such through January of 1985.
Janice was vice-president of the Oregon State Sheep Producers from 1985 - 1987.
Dale was a 4-H Leader for Henley Sheep Club for 20 + years. Janice was always by his side helping.
Janice loved working outside in her yard. She and Dale especially took pleasure in picking apples from their apple tree. Together they made applesauce that was enjoyed at all family dinners and holidays. She also loved doing yard work which included masonry and the restoration and displaying of antique farm equipment.
Janice and Dale thoroughly enjoyed going to all of their granddaughter Mandy's rodeos. They traveled all over Oregon and beyond to watch her compete.
They also never missed a basketball, baseball or football game of their grandson Taylor's. Rain or shine, snow or sleet, they were faithfully cheering for him in the grandstands.
Janice is preceded in death by her husband Dale. She is survived by her children, Bart (Pam) Fleming, and Ross (Anna) Fleming; two grandchildren, Mandy (Ty) Keeler, and Taylor (Becca) Fleming; and four great-grandchildren, Whitlee and Bentlee Alves, Tinley Keeler, and Taylin Fleming.
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