Janette Finley

Janette Finley, age 78, passed away February 17, 2024.

Memorial Visitation:  4 – 6PM Saturday, March 2, 2024 at Lake Shore Funeral Home

Janette Finley was born on December 14, 1945, in Waco, Texas to the late Margaret and H.B. Sherrill.  (Her ‘official’ name was Lois Janette Sherrill. If you ever wanted to make her mad, just call her Lois!)

Janette was a member of the Highlighters Drill Team at University High School and graduated as Salutatorian in 1964.  She then attended Scott & White School of Nursing in Temple, Texas, graduating with Honors on March 17, 1967.  She was the recipient of the Maude Scott Award recognizing the Outstanding Graduate for her class.  During this time, she also obtained her RN license.

On Saturday, February 17, 1962, she and Richard Finley went on a blind date.  Five years later, they married and moved to Longview, Texas, while Richard finished his engineering degree at LeTourneau University.  Janette was an RN in the ICU at Good Shepherd Hospital in Longview and an RN for Doctors Angel and Crosthwait at Crosthwait Clinic in Waco.  Her oldest daughter, Shari, was born in Houston in 1972.  Just six weeks later, they settled in Waco to raise their family. Her youngest daughter, Erica, was born there in 1975.

After moving to China Spring in 1980, Janette spent her time raising the girls and keeping the books for their business, Brake & Clutch Supply.  She was very active with the girls’ activities – dance, basketball, track, softball, cheerleader, golf, just to name a few – driving them to practices and attending all games, no matter how far from home they were.  There are dozens of boxes full of photos and VHS tapes as proof!

Janette was also active with the First Baptist Church of China Spring where she was a member of the lady’s ensemble, ‘Redeemed’.  They performed many events and ultimately created several albums.  She was a member of the choir, she led Girls in Action (GA’s) for many years, volunteered her time & creativity with Vacation Bible School, and served on many Mission Trips to the Texas/Mexico border.

After the girls graduated college and married, Janette enjoyed her time with Richard in the Cen-Tex Corvette Club.  She was well known for treating members to her fabulous chocolate chip and candy cane cookies.  She and Richard enjoyed taking road trips in their Corvette and making BBQ runs with their friends from the club.

In the early 2000’s she unofficially changed her name to Mimi, the title of which she was most proud.  Her four grandchildren Minas, Finley, Anastasia and Owen were her greatest joy.  She loved spending time with them, making cookies for every season and taking them on many ‘Adventures with Mimi’ at Camp Mimi and Grandpa.  Just as with Shari and Erica, she was always present when with her grandkids.

During this same timeframe, she started developing signs of dementia.  After the disease became progressively worse, she moved to West Rest Haven in 2021 where she received loving care.  Janette became wholly healed and entered the gates of Heaven on Saturday, February 17, 2024 – 62 years to the day she and Richard first met.  She was 78 years old.

Janette was preceded in death by her mother, Margaret Nunn Sherrill; father, Hiram Blaine (H.B.) Sherrill; and sister, Judy Sherrill Robins.

She is survived by her husband, Richard, of China Spring, Texas; daughter, Shari Lofgren and her children Finley and Owen of Frisco, Texas; daughter, Erica Manias and husband Pete, and their children, Minas and Anastasia of Frisco, Texas; many cousins who were like siblings, a loving sister-in-law, two brothers-in-law, and a niece and nephew, as well as many friends that she loved as family.

We will miss her angelic voice, her contagious smile and her genuine excitement about life.

Place of Service: Lake Shore Funeral Home , 5201 Steinbeck Bend; Waco, TX 76708