On October 17th, 2024, in her home, surrounded by her loving family, Janice Gayle (Malcom) Books, 80, of Elkhart, was called home to be with the Lord. She was immediately reunited in Heaven with her beloved daughters Tara Leigh (1967), Tina Jo Motz (2020), mother Imogene Malcom (2002), and brothers James, Kenneth and Roy Malcom, and she now rests with them in Gods arms.

Janice was born on April 3, 1944 in Salem, Kentucky to the late G. Raymond and Imogene (Guess) Malcom. Janice graduated from Elkhart High School in 1962 and began working at Selmer shortly after. It was there that she met her future husband Nathan Books. They were married on February 11, 1966 and they shared 59 loving years of marriage.

Together they blended their families and had four children, Margo Costello (Kevin), Marsha Hinson (Thomas), Tina Motz, and Charlie Books (Gail). They were blessed to have 8 grandchildren Jillian Sousely (Jens), Jordan Minich (Morgan), Charlotte Minich-Falletta (Anthony), Ashley Motz, Rebecca Dodson (Derek), Abbey Hinson, Morgan Cook (Austin), Gabrielle Books, and 6 great grandchildren, Caden & Madeline Minich, Frederick Denton, Lennon Minich-Falletta, Cade and Crue Cook, and great grand dogs Tatertot & Gumbo.

Janice was the perfect combination of beautiful and tough, much of that strength came from her humble beginnings growing up with very little, as the only girl of 8 children. Her 7 brothers, or 'my boys' as she liked to call them, were one of her greatest treasures in life. She was a woman of her people and if you were lucky enough to be one of them she would love, defend, and take care of you with all that she had. She was a very active member of Pathway Church in Middlebury and looked forward to hearing Pastor Scott's messages each Sunday. She loved garage sales, going to car shows with Nate in her '55 T Bird, taking golfcart rides with her late dog Moose, phone calls with her girlfriends, and most of all spending time with her family. Janice was a simple woman in the very best way, life's simplest treasures were the things that brought her the most joy. Drinking coffee on the porch with Nate, feeding the ducks with her great grandsons, working in her garden, making zucchini bread, visiting with friends and loved ones, being outdoors soaking in the sunshine, those are the moments that were most precious to her. What a wonderful life she lived. Visitation for Janice will be held Friday, October 25, 2024 at Billings Funeral Home from 10:00 AM-12:00 PM with the funeral following at 12:00 PM.