Page created by: Holly Walker

Janis Jo Walker Forsyth, age 75, passed away at her home in Ogden, Utah, on August 17, 2023. She was born in American Fork, Utah, the first child of Donald L. Walker and Jean Woodard Walker (Dean). She spent the first fifteen years of her life in Pleasant Grove, living in a veritable childhood paradise of farms with mature fruit trees of every variety, vegetable and berry gardens, herbs, wild asparagus, hay barns, livestock, chickens, pets, and lush flower gardens from spring to the first snow. She lived within walking distance of her maternal and paternal grandparents, whose properties were also gardens of childhood glory. As soon as she could walk, her paternal Grandfather placed her in the saddle atop ‘Ol Blue”, their beloved horse. She rejoiced on heavy snow days when he would drape Blue with bells and gather up the neighborhood children behind on their sleighs, towed by ropes for wild whip rides galloping through the neighborhood. When very small, she rode in a blanket-padded wooden crate fitted with skis. As did all the town's children, she wandered and explored fearlessly, loved visiting the drug stores for fountain drinks and seeing movies at the Grove Theater. She relished Dracula, Frankenstein, the Wolfman, the Mummy, and any other movie that terrified her and her sister. For major treats, her parents would drive her to the Dairy King for a soft serve ice cream cone, and drive-in movies were a weekly summer event. She attended Grove Crest Elementary and Junior High School in Pleasant Grove, then transferred to St. Francis of Assisi Catholic School in Provo. She met the love of her life, Clarke W. Forsyth while attending school in Pleasant Grove, whom she married in 1963. She and Clarke had two children, Benjamin Victor, and Bonnie Jean, and resided in Springville, Orem, and Cedar Fort before moving to Ogden

Janis began working as a small child on the farm, picking fruit and vegetables, feeding the chickens, gathering eggs, and the heavy household chores of the 1950s. When her children were of school age, she began her work in healthcare as a nurse’s aide in the Nursery at Payson Hospital, then worked in Obstetricians' offices for many years. She later followed in her mother's footsteps, working at the Utah State Hospital in Provo as a Psychiatric Technician, and retired in 2012. She was loved by her patients and co-workers and was at her best in the service of others. In 2020, Janis and Clarke moved to Ogden to be near her children and enjoy a much-deserved break from Utah County. Throughout her life, Janis loved pets, from her first dog ‘Ol Tuck to Sadie and her last dog, Jack. She devoted much of her retirement to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and was Clarke’s loyal fishing companion for years. She was gregarious, had a great wit, and could imitate famous personalities spectacularly. Her great love of children was apparent throughout her life, as was her passion for a just and kind society. As a loyal Democrat, Janis abhorred Donald John Trump et al., and her sister wishes she had survived long enough to see his Fulton County Jail mugshot.


Janis is survived by her devoted husband of 60 years, Clarke W. Forsyth, children Benjamin Victor Forsyth and Bonnie Jean (Shawn) Combs, Ogden, several grandchildren, great-grandchildren, sister Holly G. Walker, Salt Lake City, nieces and nephews, and the friends, patients and colleagues to whom she generously gave her time and kindness. Her favorite prayer was the Prayer of St. Francis; where there was sadness, Janis brought joy. She was preceded in death by her parents, grandparents, and sister Marcy Lou Walker. A tribute in her honor and memory has been set up with the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research. A private memorial service and wake for close family and friends will be announced later, and photos of her life will be posted on her page