Janice Marie Christman Metz, 73
Former Bonners Ferry teacher Janice Marie Christman Metz, 73, of Troy, Mont., died Wednesday, Aug. 29, 2007, of congestive heart failure at Libby Care Center in Montana.
Cremation services were held on Friday, Aug. 31, under the direction of Nelson and Vial Funeral Home in Libby.
A memorial service is planned for 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 15, at the Methodist Church in North Powder, Ore., followed by a graveside service at North Powder Cemetery.
Janice was born May 15, 1934, in Halfway, Ore., to Calvin and Helen Christman. She was the oldest in a family of five children, which included sisters, Carol and Marilyn, and brothers, Cedric "Sid" and Marion "Bruce" Christman.
Janice grew up in the North Powder area where she attended grade school and graduated as salutatorian of North Powder High School Class of 1952.
As a child, she enjoyed outdoor adventures like fishing Anthony Creek with her brothers and sisters and tagging along with her father when he was working as a logger.
In high school, Janice was involved in many activities like sports, music and the local 4-H program.
From an early age, Janice was an accomplished pianist and organist and often played during Sunday worship services at local churches.
She earned college scholarships to Oregon State University and was a member of the Azalea House while attending there. Janice attended Eastern Oregon University in La Grande, and earned a degree in elementary education from the University of Idaho in Moscow.
On Jan. 23, 1957, Janice married August "Gus" G. Metz Jr. in Stevenson, Wash., and became mother to seven children: Kathy, August, Keith, Jeff, Brian, Amy and Karen Metz.
The family eventually moved to North Idaho, where Janice was employed for many years as an elementary school teacher for Bonners Ferry School District.
Work took Gus to northeastern Oregon and Janice accepted a teaching position in the Umatilla School District, where she taught for several years.
As an English teacher, Janice was an inspiration to many of her students with some former pupils maintaining contact with her until her death.
After teaching for almost 20 years and with her children grown, Janice retired and assisted her husband with property management in Portland, Ore., where they spent their leisure time collecting antiques.
Janice yearned to return to the simple, country life she had known as a child and moved to a hilltop ranch in northwestern Montana, where she enjoyed gardening, landscaping and spending time with her grandchildren.
In later years, when chronic illness slowed her physically, Janice continued to be an avid reader and enjoyed staying abreast of current events.
Janice is survived by her former spouse and long-time companion, Gus; her children, Kathy Meyer of Toledo, Ore., August G. Metz III of Rock Springs, Wyo., Jeff Metz of Sandpoint, Brian Metz of Troy, Amy Metz of Missoula, Mont., and Karen Martin of Mountain Home, Idaho; her sisters Carol Wisdom of North Powder and Marilyn Esquibel of Northridge, Calif.; her brother, Marion "Bruce" Christman of Baker City, Ore.; 27 grandchildren; several great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her brother Sid and her son, Keith Metz, who had lived in Moyie Springs.