Grandma Janell passed away on Friday evening after her granddaughters put on yet another “terrible” movie. Janell lived a storied life. She served in the Marines as a drill instructor, did a brief stint in the CIA as a secretary, tried her hand as a cashier at Harrah’s Lake Tahoe, all before a full career in the complaints department of the Nevada Public Utilities Commission.
She worked hard raising and enduring 4 children and 14 (ish) grandchildren during her 50 year marriage. In her retirement she enjoyed working on her yard in Stagecoach, including turning part of the property into a campground dubbed “Nell’s Creek”, and running an online used bookstore with her daughter Tracy.
Grandma enjoyed food, especially when cooked by someone else, yard sales, thrift shops, used book stores, and reading - often 2-4 different (mostly romance) books at the same time. She also loved action movies, including unironically loving The Postman, The ENTIRE Die Hard and Indiana Jones series, and recently John Wick.
She was a supporter and monthly contributor to numerous local and national charities including the Salvation Army, Food Bank of Northern Nevada, Reno/Sparks Gospel Mission, Catholic Charities, and the Southwest Indian Children fund.
She is survived by her husband Ray, twin sister Jenon (Jerry) Black, and her 4 children Tracy, Jaclyn (James Gahr), Matthew and Michael, as well as numerous grandchildren, foster grandchildren, and great grandchildren.
The family wishes to thank Infinity Hospice Care for ensuring Grandma’s final wishes were met, especially nurse Teresa, CNA Destiny, and social worker Melissa.