Janet Louise Learned Hevey, 78, of Fairview, Texas, passed away on Tues., May 4, 2021 at Faith Presbyterian Hospice Center in Dallas after a 16-year battle with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. The family gives God the glory for His blessings on Janet and His mercies and grace in her illness and passing.
Janet was born December 20, 1942, in Iowa City, to Audrey Smith Learned and Clarence Learned. Her maternal grandparents were Rebecca Piersall Smith and Orville Smith of Bennett, Iowa. Her paternal grandparents were Floyd Bertrum Learned and wife Nellie Long of Des Moines.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Clarence and Audrey Learned, of Kinross, Iowa; two children, Daniel Jason and Cara Ruth. Janet is survived by her husband Richard of Fairview; daughter Kimberly Meeks and her husband Michael of Frisco, Texas, and their children Matthew and Tanner; son Jeffrey of New Orleans; brother Gary Learned of Kinross; sister Cara Brouse and husband Bob of Mifflinburg, Penn.; brother-in-law Edward Hevey and wife Michele Hevey.
Janet was raised in the farming community of Kinross. On the farm and later in the family store, she learned the value of hard work and a strong work ethic. Janet graduated from Northeast Missouri State Teachers College in Kirksville. After graduation, Janet was hired as a teacher in Bettendorf, Iowa. Janet met her husband Richard Thomas Hevey in the Quad Cities. They married December 21, 1968 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Wellman, Iowa.
Dick and Janet moved to DeRidder, Louisiana, in mid 1970 where daughter Kimberly was born in 1971. Dick was hired by Norwel Equipment Co. in 1973 and the young family moved to Shreveport. There Janet gave birth to Daniel Jason who soon passed away from congenital heart defects. In 1975, the family moved to Alexandria. Janet gave birth to Cara Ruth who also passed away from heart defects. Son Jeffrey was born in 1977.
In Alexandria, Janet continued her work as an artist and taught private art lessons in her home studio for 14 years while raising her family. She led the 4H club at Country Day School for several years and was honored with a national 4H leadership award in Washington, D.C. As Dick rose to management within Norwel, she hosted employees and business associates in their home.
The Heveys moved to Baton Rouge, La., in 1989. Janet became an advocate for children with disabilities and their parents in this capital city. She lobbied legislators at the Louisiana Capitol to fix a broken system.
Meanwhile, she and Dick had an opportunity to travel extensively both personally and in connection with Norwel. Together they traveled to South Africa and Japan and made numerous trips to Europe. In 2003, they purchased an RV and spent the next decade traveling through North America.
Janet and Dick lived in the Baton Rouge neighborhood of Lake Sherwood Acres neighborhood for 25 years. Janet taught and worked in her home art studio. She studied portraiture with artists in Georgia and New Orleans; she began sculpting with European-trained commission sculptor Jean Spann of Baton Rouge.
She welcomed people from all walks of life into their home—from the street construction crew she found in her backyard hot tub (at the kind invitation of a young Jeff) to business colleagues from Italy and California. She enjoyed entertaining and was an exceptional cook. She had a passion for gardening that bordered on obsession. She, along with Dick, turned their lakeside lot into an oasis.
In 2006, Janet was diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis with a three to five year life expectancy. A routine surgical procedure in 2013 triggered her need for oxygen. In 2014, she was preliminarily accepted into the Duke lung transplant program. She simultaneously learned of her second grandson Tanner’s pending arrival and decided to forgo the transplant to spend quality time with her family. The Lord blessed her with seven additional years.
After 45 years in Louisiana, Dick and Janet moved to Fairview in 2015 to be near their grandsons Matthew and Tanner. They quickly settled into the Heritage Ranch community making numerous friends and regularly entertaining.
In her last year, Janet found immense pleasure helping Jeff purchase a condo in New Orleans and decorate it—all from the comfort of her armchair. She looked forward to daily Google Duo sessions with her brother Gary. In February 2021, she and Dick moved to Kim’s house to weather the historic Texas snowstorm. They spent the week enjoying the grandkids and Kim and Mike’s cooking.
Prior to her passing, Janet expressed immense love and gratitude for Dick and his selfless attention to her care. Aside from her salvation in Jesus, she said Dick was her greatest gift. She loved Kim and Jeff; she loved Mike like her own--but her favorite people in the world were her grandsons Matthew and Tanner.
A "come and go" visitation for Janet will be held on Friday, May 7, 2021 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Turrentine Jackson Morrow Funeral Home in Allen, Texas.
A funeral service will be held at 4:00 p.m., Saturday, May 8, 2021 at Turrentine Jackson Morrow Funeral Home in Allen, Texas with the Rev. Justin Lokey officiating. Services will be live streamed online at https://celebrationoflife.tv/blog/janet-learned-hevey.
Pallbearers are Jeff Hevey, Mike Meeks, Matthew Meeks, and Patrick Hevey (nephew).
Honorary pallbearer is Tanner Meeks. Interment will be scheduled at a future date in South English, Iowa.
Memorial contributions may be made in Janet’s name to the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation at www.pulmonaryfibrosis.org.