Janet Decker Wallis

Janet D. Wallis, age 82, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, September 25, 2013, while in Ogden, Utah. She was born on November 28, 1930 in Provo, Utah to Lorenzo B. and Anna Squires Decker. After her father graduated from Brigham Young University, he taught school in Parowan, Utah and St. Johns, Arizona for a few years before settling his family in Snowflake, Arizona where Janet grew up with her two sisters, Catherine and Patricia, and her four brothers, Daniel, Fred, David and Jared. After graduating from Snowflake Union High School, she moved to Provo to attend BYU. It was there she met and married Jack R. Wallis of Vernal, Utah. They were married in the Mesa, Arizona Temple on September 8, 1951. After Jack graduated from BYU in 1952, they moved to Vernal where he started his career at the Vernal Express. Janet also helped out at the newspaper selling advertising, writing and proofing, and, for a couple of years, sharing her life insights and wisdom in a weekly column in the Vernal Express entitled Planting Sunflowers. While raising a family in Vernal, Janet served as president of the Vernal Area Chamber of Commerce and president of the Uintah Arts Council. She also was actively involved in other clubs, associations and civil activities. Janet was a faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She served as stake and ward Primary president and ward Relief Society president, ward missionary, and temple worker. She is survived by two sisters, Catherine Day Overson of Springville, Utah, and Patricia (Jerry) Frost of Snowflake, Arizona; three brothers, Daniel (Bonnie) Decker of Provo, Utah, David (Sandra) Decker and Jared (Kathy) Decker, both of Snowflake, Arizona; four sons Mark of Edon, Utah, Neil (Kathleen) of Stephens City, Virginia, David (Jennifer) of Mesa, Arizona, and Brian (Su) of Huntsville, Utah; a daughter-in-law, Tamara Wallis of Cedar Hills, Utah; a daughter, Cynthia (Barry) Butler, of Palmdale, California; 28 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be held on Friday, October 4, 2013, at 11:00 am in the Vernal 5th and 9TH LDS Wards Chapel, 250 North 200 West, with Bishop Randy Deets officiating. A viewing for family and friends is on Friday morning from 9:30-10:45 at the Chapel. Interment will be in the Vernal Memorial Park under the direction of the Blackburn Vernal Mortuary