Janet Eloise Bondurant
June 26, 1920 ~ November 16, 2015
Resided in:
Asheville, NC
Janet Eloise Parmelee Bondurant died peacefully on Monday, November 16, 2015, at her Asheville home, Arbor Terrace. She was born in Helena, Arkansas, on June 26, 1920, to Eloise Woodrow and Louis Ray Parmelee. In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her sister, Jean Bradley, her brothers, Louis Parmelee and Bruce Parmelee, her husband, Reid Bondurant, and her beloved son, James Sims McElduff.
Janet lived in Wynne, Arkansas, where she worked as an executive secretary for the Arkansas State Highway Department and served as organist at the Wynne Presbyterian Church for 24 years. After her retirement, she returned to Helena, married Reid Bondurant, and made a happy home there until her husband's death. She moved to Asheville in 1996 to be near her son.
Janet was an avid gardener, an enthusiastic reader, a committed volunteer, and an accomplished musician; a woman of good humor, curiosity, creativity, and great faith. She was a lifelong Presbyterian, a lifelong Democrat and served every community of which she was a part with love, laughter and music.
She is survived by her daughter Janet Lee Fisher and husband, Mike; her Special Friend, Paula Fisher; her daughter-in-law, Kathy Triplett; her daughter, Ellen Wood McElduff and husband, Eric Overmyer; her grandsons, William Michael Fisher, Jr., James Benjamin Fisher, John Nicholas Fisher, and spouses, Glynna, Courtney, and Suzanne; her granddaughters, Ellen Elizabeth Fisher, Lily Xiaoxia Parmelee Overmyer, and Katherine Yingchen McElduff Overmyer, seven great-grandchildren, and a host of nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held on Monday, November 23, at 11:00 at Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church, 789 Merrimon Avenue, Asheville.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to The Irene Wortham Center, Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church, and Wynne Presbyterian Church.
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So sorry for the loss of a Dear Sweet & Precious Friend. So many good memories-laughs & secrets we shared. I Love & will miss you my friend !!!So sorry Ellen….Love you..
Lost a wonderful precious friend….she was an amazing lady and I was very fortunate to get to care for her. She always had a smile that will be missed dearly…RIP Ladybug!! Love you to the moon and back! Prayers for her sweet daughter Ellen and the rest of the family.
Heaven has gained a wonderful angel. My Family sends our Deepest Condolences to her family and friends RIP Miss Janet…
There will never be another like her…Her humor and charm was a delight every single day. I treasure every laugh, smile, hug, and moment I shared with her. I am honored that I was able to spend this time with her. Caring for Janet was easy, she cared for us just as much. Holding her hand, walks in the garden, many meals together, activities and music. Janet and I became friends quickly, as she did with everyone she met. I was also honored by getting to know her sweet family and friends, who in turn have been just as good to us. I know she is with her loved ones, at peace, playing the piano, laughing, and will be a Guardian Angel to all of us who loved her. I will always keep her in my heart and I will smile and laugh when I think of her. My sincere sympathy to her family, Ellen, Janet Lee, and Kathy and her many grandchildren and extended family. Matthew 5:4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
Janet, you are missed! I am thankful for meeting you! Janet was the sweetest, kindest, soul to everyone! When getting Janet ready for lunch she would not leave with out her lipstick! Also the red heart shaped key ring! Everyone leaving the dining room would stop and greet her! So many memories to treasure. Ellen you are the most devoted daughter I have ever had the pleasure to meet in my 30 years in nursing. You are a mini Janet! We love you! So long for now my friend! Someday we will meet again I love you!
I am so sorry to hear about our beloved Janet. She brought so much happiness to everyone she met. What a precious and Gracious lady! I loved her so. I know the Angels are rejoicing in heaven. We are so blessed to have know her. May God bless you all!
My sincerest sympathy. May the God of all comfort strengthen your family during this time of sorrow. Those who die God keeps in his memory because he cares, they are precious in his eyes. Psalms:116:15. We all are looking forward to the day when John 5:28 will come true for all the ones we’ve loved and lost.
I just read about Janet in an Arkansas paper. She meant so much to the Wynne Presbyterian Church, to the children of that church, and to me. She always had a smile, and she made the children love music; she made me love being a Presbyterian. I still smile when I hear her name and will remember her always.
Love to all her family………
My sincerest sympathy. May the God of all comfort strengthen your family during this time of sorrow. Those who die God keeps in his memory because he cares, they are precious in his eyes. Psalms:116:15. We all are looking forward to the day when John 5:28 will come true for all the ones we’ve loved and lost.
So sorry to hear of the passing of Janet. She was such a wonderful lady. In Helena, through my aunt, Billy Lou Wahl Hatfield, I got to spend time with Janet and found her to be such a warm, pleasant, humorous, enjoyable person.
What a fine woman, that Janet Bondurant. Aren’t we all lucky to have known her. And won’t we miss her. Love to you, Ellen, Janet, Kathy, and all you grands and great-grands, and Mike and Eric, and many, many more who have been deeply touched by her. Bon voyage, dear one – with much love for you and, of course, for Jim.
Ellen and family, just heard today,so sorry missed service. I had so much fun with her!will never forget our good times. I went to see her in spring, and she was doing well,even knew who i was,and asked if i came to cut her hair! Your mom lived life to the fullest! be proud! So sorry will miss her..
To Janet Lee and Ellen — I loved your mother. The picture with her obituary is a wonderful testimony to her happy spirit and her joy in life. I admired (and yes, envied) her musical gift which she shared in so many ways. We had many conversations about church organs which we were both involved in and I benefited from her experience and knowledge. We shared many laughs about unexpected events happening during church services — some of our own doing! She added greatly to my life and I am grateful that I knew this wonderful lady. Jimmy and I send sincerest sympathy to all your family, Peggy Webster
On this day of Thanksgiving I am grateful to have had Aunt Janet in my life. She was a ray of sunshine to all who entered her presence. She is missed.
Our most sincere condolences.
With apologies to the rest, she was my favorite Aunt. How could she not be!? Being in her company always left me with the desire to be a better man, a gentleman. She was a lady in the truest since and I will cherish the times we spent together. Rest well, Aunt Janet, but if I know you, you are already busy in Heaven! Love to you Janet Lee and Ellen.