Janice M. Sutton, 78, of Henderson, Kentucky, passed away peacefully Friday, December 10, 2021.

Janice was born on July 3, 1943, the youngest of nine children of Joe and Lela Melton.  Janice loved her family.  She loved to cook, shop, and be involved in all the things her family was doing.  One of her favorite things to do was to overnight travel to Nashville and eat breakfast at the Noshville restaurant in Green Hills, go to the Green Hills Mall to shop, and go to the Farmer's Market and Phillips Toy Mart.  Her daughter, Heather, and niece, Cheryl Wells Brown, were her travel companions for many of these trips.  She loved the time she had with both Heather and Cheryl.  Janice also loved the Tennessee Titans football team and was a season ticket holder.

Janice and Clyde were devoted to each other.  Her truly special bond was with her daughter, Heather, who was born in 1967 with Down's Syndrome.  Janice spent most of her life after Heather was born advocating for children and adults with Down's Syndrome.  Along with other mothers of children with special needs, she advocated for special education classrooms in Henderson in the early 1970's.  Janice cared about people and believed that everyone mattered.  She was also a member of Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her daughter, Heather Elizabeth Sutton; three brothers, Martin Melton, Ronnie Melton, and Kenneth Melton; and three sisters, Marietta Davis, Jean Pagragan, and Juanita Kizer.

Survivors include her husband of 59 years, Clyde Sutton, Jr.; one son, Greg Sutton and his wife, Nelissa, of Henderson, Kentucky; three grandchildren, Simon, Gabrielle, and Elizabeth Sutton; two siblings, JoAnne Wells and Jerry Melton, both of Henderson, Kentucky; and nieces and nephews.

Services will be at noon Wednesday, December 15, 2021, at Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church.  Father Larry McBride will officiate.  Burial will be in St. Louis Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday, December 14, 2021, and until 11 a.m. Wednesday, December 15, 2021, at Rudy-Rowland Funeral Home.

Contributions may be made to Green River Area Down's Syndrome Association (GRADSA).

Online condolences may be made at www.rudyrowland.com .