Janet Laverne Wingate

Janet Laverne (Smith) Wingate, 85, of Brookfield, formerly of Purdin and Lake Lotawana, died January 17, 2021, at Boone Hospital Center, Columbia.

Janet was born October 5, 1935, in Linn County, third daughter and 5th child of James William and Leathia Delores (Bagley) Smith. She married William (Bill) Thomas Wingate June 6, 1953, in Memphis, Missouri. They were married 43 years, until his death January 29, 1997.

She is survived by her three children and a son and daughter-in-law, Paula and Larry Brethower, Buffalo, Tom and Jayne Wingate, Mesa, AZ, Lauren Wingate, Breckenridge; eleven grandchildren, Logan and Kelsey Brethower, Buffalo, Luke Brethower, Springfield, Lee Brethower and Jennifer Nguyen, Colorado Springs, CO, Matt Wingate, Mesa, AZ, Adam and Nicole Wingate, Saratoga Springs, UT, Ashleigh Wingate, Salt Lake City, UT, Marcus Wingate, Salt Lake City, UT, Jordan and Christopher Taylor, Mesa, AZ, Jill and RJ Sanderson, Tempe, AZ, Tanya Tetzner, Raytown, and Amber and Derek Miller, Trenton; thirteen great-grandchildren; one sister, Judy Smith, Rock Island, IL, and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband; parents; four brothers, JW, Jerald, Gary, and Dean Smith, and two sisters, Norma (Smith) Abbott, and Mary (Smith) Havens.

Janet was the daughter of a farmer. She was an excellent student and a good athlete. She graduated from Liberty High School, Browning, in 1953. Janet was a secretary at a loan company and the bookkeeper at her husband’s barbershop and was active in the Sportsman’s Club at Lake Lotawana. Janet had a strong work ethic, and worked a variety of jobs in the winters when her husband’s ironwork was limited. She was wise with family finances. She was a gardener, and preserved large amounts of home grown produce. Janet was thoughtful and giving; she prepared food for home-bound neighbors and shared her talents of cooking and sewing with family, friends, and organizations she was involved with.

She was a member of The Church of Christ, Purdin.

The Purdin Community Center has been reserved on Saturday April 3, 2021 for a Celebration of Life in memory of Janet Lavern Wingate who passed away January 17,2021. It will be from 2-4pm. A meal will not occur. Memories will be shared. If you have a memory to share but cannot attend, email or IM Tom Wingate 7022789768. Please feel free to notify/ invite anyone that you feel would be interested but may not see this page.

Service was under the direction of Wright Funeral Home in Brookfield.

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