Janice Sue Culbertson, age 57, of The Hills, Texas passed away September 27, 2010 after a long and courageous battle with stage 4 pancreatic cancer. She was born January 16, 1953 in Miami, Oklahoma to Earl Clarkson and Wilma Juanita (Billington) Clarkson. On July 30, 1971 she married Chuck Culbertson in Riverton, Kansas. Janice was a member of the First Baptist Church in Wylie, Texas. She is survived by her husband, Chuck Culbertson of The Hills, Texas; sons, Eric Culbertson and wife, Jennifer of Wylie, Texas, Justin Culbertson and wife, Brook of Fayetteville, Georgia; grandchildren, Casey Ryan Culbertson, Erica Dawn Culbertson, Cali Grace Culbertson, Carson James Culbertson, Katie Faith Culbertson and Kara Janice Culbertson. The grandchildren were the light of Jan’s life. She was lovingly known to all of them as “Gwama”. She was preceded in death by her parents, Earl and Wilma Clarkson; brothers, Jim and Earl Clarkson. After the initial fear and shock of Jan’s diagnosis, her goal turned to becoming a blessing to others through how she handled this terrible disease. Jan began praying and seeking God’s will for the rest of her life. She turned the cancer over to the Lord, the One who can heal, comfort, and above all give us hope for our tomorrows. Jan’s favorite verses became James 1:2-4 “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. “ Jan’s chemo nurse for the past 13 months wrote to her “You are, without a doubt, one of the “great women” I have met in my life. Your courage to persevere in spite of pain, mouth ulcers, weakness, low blood counts, nausea, etc. etc. –and the love you have for your family and friends is overwhelming. The kind things you have done for your grandchildren, as well as those things you have put in place for them later. You have wonderful friends—never has anyone had so many of their friends come to visit (and from so far away) during their treatment sessions. So, that tells me everyone who knows you feels the same way I do—we love you.” Jan still prayed for healing, but also to be used by our Lord. She had not been bold about sharing, writing or speaking of her faith, and said it was still somewhat difficult. Her prayer became that she would be a miracle and doctors and non-believers would ask how and why. She knew that Stage 4 Pancreatic cancer was most likely a death sentence, and her prayers also became asking God to have her conduct her life in such a way that people would ask “How do you do it?” and it would give her a chance to share the gospel with them. From Jan’s testimony….”I believe my days on this earth were numbered from the day I was conceived. I know not what that number is, but what I do know is I have a God who watches over me each and every day. One who loves me and protects me. One who gave His Son so I could have eternal life. One who is waiting in Heaven right now and when I get there, He will restore my body and take away all the angst and pain I have in my body and soul. I feel more blessed today than ever before. Oh, I still have a pity party now and then, but when I place my days in the Lord’s hands, he is very faithful to give me what I need each and every day.” After years of supporting the youth ministry at FBC Wylie through becoming the summer camp “cooks”, and seeing the impact excellent food and facilities had on the attitudes of young people and adults as the gospel was presented to them, the Lord opened a major door of ministry opportunity. We purchased a property in NE Oklahoma in 1997 known as Cave Spring Ranch, and at the Lord’s leading, built a 360 bed facility (Cave Springs Christian Retreat) to support Church youth groups looking for an excellent summer camp facility and experience. It was completed in 2001, and we ran the facility for 3 years, and then donated the facility to SKY Ranch. Many lives of youth and adults have been impacted for the kingdom through the ongoing operations of what is now Sky Ranch at Cave Springs. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Thursday, September 30, 2010, at First Baptist Church in Wylie, Texas. Graveside services will be held at 1:00 p.m., Friday, October 1, 2010, at the GAR Cemetery in Miami, Oklahoma. The family will receive friends during a visitation on Wednesday evening beginning at 6:00 p.m., at Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow Funeral Home in Allen, Texas. Family and friends are invited to the funeral home at their convenience on Wednesday to pay their respects and to sign the register book. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that donations be made to Sky Ranch at Cave Springs, where Jan has had a desire to see an outdoor amphitheater built to further support the ministry activities of attending groups. Donations can be sent to: SKY Ranch Foundation, Attn: Jan’s Place, 600 N. Pearl Street, Ste. 640, LB 148, Dallas, TX, 75230 or by phone at 469-484-4840.