Janice Lee Keel Stewart

Janice Lee Stewart passed away on March 22, 2023.  Born along the straits of the Panama Canal, Janice Lee made her entrance to the Keel family on August 16, 1941, as her father relocated to Panama to join the efforts to fortify the canal prior to the start of World War II.  She enjoyed her time in this tropical paradise, often boasting of the pet monkey she adopted in her early years.  Upon completion of the canal project, her family returned to the states settling in Decatur, Alabama.  Throughout her life, Janice proudly remembered her grandmother, a native Cherokee Indian who shared Janice’s beautiful blue eyes and dark black hair.  As a teen, Janice followed her mother, Carrie Bell Cloud, to Houston, Texas before settling in Louisiana.  When she was nineteen, she married her love, Ralph Lyndal Stewart of Westlake.  After a few years, they moved to Lake Charles where they would raise their three precious children, Susan, Randy, and Amanda.  Jenny became the beloved “fourth child” joining the Stewart family shortly after her birth.

Janice was a passionate gardener and homemaker.  Her strong spirit and endless energy was a beautiful blessing to those around her as she joyfully cooked meals, maintained her home, and nurtured her many wonderful plants and fruit trees.  Her best days, apart from caring for family, were spent outside working in the yard.  With certainty, her peanut butter fudge recipe was, and is the best fudge anyone has ever tasted.  Her family always counted on her fabulous fudge every time they visited.  Being an avid reader, Janice will also be remembered for always having a book in hand – a passion and love for learning which she passed on to each of her children.  The young lives of her many grandchildren were made complete by her love.  She was delighted to participate in all parts of their lives from the day they were born.

As she is set free from all earthly sorrow and is welcomed into the loving arms of her heavenly Father, her family credits her for instilling a strong faith and call to live a life of service to the Lord.  Setting a beautiful example of a life lived according to the call she encouraged in others, she never ceased to love her family and others around her through acts of service. 

Her funeral service will be held at 11:30 AM on Saturday, April 1, 2023 in the Johnson Funeral Home of Lake Charles Chapel.  Burial will follow in Westlake Memorial Park Cemetery under the direction of Johnson Funeral Home.  Visitation will be at the funeral home on Saturday from 11:00 AM until the start of the service at 11:30 AM.