Janet Mcwhirter

Janet Wells McWhirter was born January 17, 1949, in Dumas, Texas to parents Gaston “Buck” and Ruth (Troutman) Wells.

Janet graduated from Dumas High School in 1967. She was an honor student, cheerleader, and voted Most Beautiful amongst her peers. She was active in the First Methodist Church of Dumas.  Janet attended Mc Murry University in Abilene, Texas. She was an honor student and member of Delta Beta Epsilon and active in many campus organizations. She was named as a Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities in 1970. Janet graduated with a BS Degree in Education in 1970. She attended Graduate School at Texas Tech University.

Jim and Janet McWhirter were married on September 5, 1970.

Janet was the love of Jim’s life; she was Jim’s first and only girlfriend. Janet supported Jim in all that he did. They loved to listen to music together, attend concerts and movies together, and at the top of the list, attend Texas Rangers baseball games together (having attended as many as 50 games in one season).

They spent many hours attending their son’s athletic and school events. Ryan, Zack, and Grant were the love of her life. She supported each of her sons in all that they pursued. Janet spent late nights assisting them with their schoolwork after having taught school all day. Janet was a strong Christian person and was a loving and supportive mother and grandmother.

Janet loved her four granddaughters, Rowan, Elliot, Hagen, and Emma Lou. She spent many hours with them supporting all of their school and sport activities in addition to Vacation Bible School at Custer Road United Methodist Church where she volunteered in Rowan’s class. They were the light of her life as she beamed every time she saw them. She loved having them spend the night and helping them in the kitchen. Janet loved taking trips to South Lake Tahoe with the “girls” and family as they did on many occasions.

Janet taught 5th grade for 30 years in Midland, Tahoka, Lubbock, Overland Park, Kansas, and Plano, Texas. Janet was voted Teacher of the Year in Plano three times that she accepted. She was voted Teacher of the Year several additional times but refused to accept as to not draw attention to herself. She was admired and loved by her fellow teachers and countless students.

Janet has been a member of Custer Road United Methodist Church since 1991. She was a member of the “Positive Thinkers” Sunday school class and participated in many Bible studies. Janet was a volunteer in the “Treasured Times” Respite Mission Group for her friends that had Alzheimer’s. She led the “Memory Matters” presentation for many years; often spending many hours preparing for the presentation. As Janet began to show signs of Alzheimer’s herself, she worked especially hard to prepare each week until it became time to pass her presentation to someone else. She continued attending Treasured Times as a participant as Alzheimer’s progressed. Janet loved working with her friends, Barbara Hutson, Jackie McCutcheon, Gene Odom, Bill Van Horn, Don Taylor and many others. Janet’s dry wit and wonderful sense of humor were enjoyed by all in the “Treasured Times” group, especially the participants.

A special thanks to her care giver team, Zack McWhirter, Grant and Brooke McWhirter, Paul and Tanya McWhirter, and Susan Railey. Your time with Janet was special.

Janet is survived by her loving husband, Jim McWhirter; sons and their children Ryan McWhirter and granddaughter Emma Louise of New Braunfels, Texas, Zack McWhirter and granddaughter Hagen of Plano, Texas, Grant McWhirter and his wife, Brooke (who was like a daughter to Janet), and granddaughters Rowan and Elliot of Fort Worth, Texas; brother and sister in law, Jimmy and Jerre Wells of Amarillo, Texas and sister and brother in law, Sharon and Mike Bennett of Dallas, Texas and favorite cousin Patsy Potter of Canyon, Texas. She was preceded in death by her parents, Gaston “Buck” Wells and Ruth (Troutman) Wells.

Janet cherished a close relationship with her sister and brother in laws, Paul and Tanya McWhirter of Plano, Texas, John and Janie Irwin of Amarillo, Texas, and Steve and Suzanne Bradshaw of Collierville, Tennessee.

A memorial service will be held to celebrate Janet’s life Saturday, July 20, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. at Custer Road United Methodist Church located at 6601 Custer Rd, Plano, Texas; officiated by

In lieu of flowers, a gift to Treasured Times Dementia Respite Mission at Custer Road United Methodist Church of Plano will be appreciated.