Lyla Janice Naysmith, 99, of Laddonia, passed away Sunday, January 5, at Kings Daughters Home in Mexico.
Janice, as she was known, was inviting and easy going, known to flash a sly sense of humor now and again, a shining light in the lives of all who had the privilege of knowing her. Her journey on this earth was one marked by love, compassion, and her unwavering faith in God. Her passing has left a void in the hearts of her family, friends, and others whose lives were touched by her. We ask that you remember Janice not for the way her life ended, but for the way it was lived.
Janice was born near Perry, Missouri in Ralls County on May 12, 1925. Her parents Lyle and Esther (Rohr) Galloway engaged in farming southeast of Perry at the time of her birth. Janice was one of eight children, there were five sons and three daughters. As was the norm in the 1920’s and 1930’s all the children worked on the farm during their childhood years.
During her early years, the Great Depression was an influencing event for Janice. Small town Missouri in the 1930s looked just like most of middle America during this time. Things were simpler, but times were hard, especially for farmers. Janice was five years old when the Great Depression introduced itself to her family. This experience taught her that self-sufficiency was essential to living and that family was a source of strength, love, and fun. Lessons she never forgot.
During the 1930’s and early 1940’s Janice reached school age attending school in a rural one-room school until she reached high school age. She attended Vandalia High School starting in 1939, graduating in four years in the Spring of 1943.
After graduation Janice wanted to try something else besides working on the family farm. She always has said she had her fill of farm life at age 18. She wanted a change. So Janice decided to join the World War II homefront mobilization effort and traveled by train the 100 miles to St. Louis to live and to work at Emerson Electric Defense Plant.
Like any young person away from home for the first time in her life, Janice became homesick, wanting to see family. She learned of a guy who worked in St. Louis, also from Vandalia, and better yet, owned a car! Unknown at the time this guy with the car was the brother of Janice’s future husband. The car provided both of them some weekend trips back home. Those trips helped.
WWII ended in August 1945, the war effort on the homefront slowed and Janice returned to her hometown to live and work. She and her close friend (unknown at the time a future sister in-law it turns out) rented an apartment in Vandalia to begin new life experiences. Back in Vandalia Janice met up with Johnny Naysmith, brother of the car guy, also of Vandalia, and they married in April 1946.
Looking for better long-term work opportunities Johnny and Janice’s brother, J.B. Galloway, decided to partner up and become entrepreneurs. A small gas station/mechanic shop/wholesale fuel business was up for a new lease/buy arrangement. The guys took it on calling their new partnership “Galloway & Naysmith”. They turned it into a robust business for the next 42 years. Janice liked the startup because it wasn’t farming.
Since settling in Laddonia in 1947, Janice worked full-time at home as a stay-at-home mom raising three children: Brenda Naysmith Maupin, Larry Naysmith and Diane Naysmith-Simpson. All three survive their mother today.
Since her 1947 arrival in Laddonia, Janice was an active 70+ year member of the Laddonia First Baptist Church serving as the pianist, organist, and a solid alto voice in the choir. Janice was a music enthusiast and so was frequently called on for piano or voice performances at community events and funerals.
Janice is survived by her children, Brenda Maupin (Bill) of Laddonia, Larry Naysmith (Susie) of Conway, Ark., Diane Simpson (Max) of Edmond, Okla.; 7 grandchildren, Micah Maupin (Heather) of Caledonia, Mich., Amanda Norton (Craig) of Perry, Sara Williams (Brenden) of Lincoln, Neb., Emily Kimbrough (Chase) of Tahlequah, Okla., Natalie Hern (Evan) of Baltimore, Md., Mary Ross (Brady) of Edmond,Okla., Kayley Anthony (Simon) of Conway, Ark., 36 great-grandchildren, two great-great-grandchildren; Sister-in-laws Norma Galloway and Val Galloway, of Vandalia.
Janice was preceded in death by her husband of 54 years, Fred A Naysmith (“Johnny”), her parents, siblings, Lois Fowler, Lloyd Galloway, Durward Galloway, JB Galloway, Ronald Galloway, Lyndell Galloway, Joann Boyd, and Mary Sue Galloway, a grandson Matthew Maupin, a granddaughter, Angela Maupin Winkelmeier and spouse David.
Janice’s family and friends are encouraged to attend an upcoming celebration of her life being scheduled during last two weeks of March 2025. Closer to March the family will communicate date, time, and location of this memorial service to Janice’s greater family and friends.
Also, updates on the celebration of Janice’s life can be found on Bienhoff Funeral Home’s website after March 1, 2025. Website for updates, www.bienhofffuneralhome.com.
Janice’s family hopes the upcoming March 2025 celebration of life provides family and friends a chance to gather, avoiding the local area’s current harsh weather and allow family who must travel long distances to get to Laddonia, the time to plan a trip to attend.
A private graveside service will be held for family at Bienhoff Funeral Home, 205 W. 5th, Laddonia, with burial in the Laddonia Cemetery.
Memorial donations are suggested to the Laddonia First Baptist Church and King’s Daughters Home of Mexico, MO in care of Bienhoff Funeral Home PO Box 6 Laddonia, MO 63352.
