Janice Ann Paynter passed away Monday, July 23, 2018, at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center, after a short battle with leukemia.
Jan was born March 19, 1948, to Ted and Vera Grinolds at Gritman Medical Center in Moscow. She was the fourth of five children. Jan grew up on the family farm on Ceder Ridge east of Kendrick. She attended grade school in Kendrick, and when the family moved to Clarkston she attended Clarkston High School. After high school, she attended college at Northwest College in Kirkland, Wash., from 1966-67. While there at Northwest College, she met the love of her life, Doug Paynter. They were married in 1968. When Doug was drafted into the U.S. Army, he was stationed in Italy and Jan joined him there.
After Italy, she returned with Doug to live in Lincoln City, Ore. During this time they were blessed with their first child, a son, Chris. In 1976, Jan moved with Doug to Clarkston. She was a homemaker for several years, working part time occasionally when the family needed it. In 1984, Jan and Doug were again blessed with an addition to the family, this time a daughter, Angela. Then in 1988, she began a long career at Lewis-Clark State College, retiring in April of 2015. That same spring she lost Doug and had to begin a new chapter of her life. Life as a widow was hard, but Jan persevered and her abilities as a grandmother really began to shine. She loved spending time with her friends and often told of the many outings she would have with them.
Her faith was the driving force in her life, and she loved the community of people at Sonrise Church.
Jan is survived by her son, Chris (Kelly), and their children, Jace and Addy; daughter Angela and her children, Wyatt and Kaleigh; her brother, Neil (Eva), and their son, Jeff Grinolds; her brother, Lee (Kathy), and their son, Steve, and daughter Connie; her brother, Cliff (Becky), and their daughters, Summer and Tyler; and sister-in-law Julie and her daughter, Darla.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Doug; her parents, Ted and Vera Grinolds; and her brother, Ted.
The family would like to publicly thank the ICU staff at St. Joe's - both the day and night shift; they are exceptional - as well as Dr. Clinton Morgan for their kindness, grace and compassion in such a shocking and difficult time.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Merchant Funeral Home of Clarkston.
There will be a viewing from 3 to 6 p.m. Tuesday at Merchant Funeral Home, 1000 Seventh St., Clarkston.
The funeral will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday at the Congregational-Presbyterian Church of Lewiston, 709 Sixth St., Lewiston, with the Rev. Jon Van Vogt officiating. A graveside service will follow at Normal Hill Cemetery.
