The life of Janice Rose Erwin Quirk began on October 21, 1939, as she was born to Thomas Leslie Erwin, Sr and Lillian (Pullen) Erwin in Columbia, TN. The family lived just outside of Columbia in the Zion Community. Seven years later her brother, Thomas (Tommy) Leslie Erwin, Jr. joined the family. When Janice was ten years old the family moved to Canaan Road where they had purchased a farm. Cows, horses, pigs, and pets were all raised and cared for on the farm. Janice’s parents were avid gardeners which is where her love for raising flowers and plants began. Also, at this time Janice moved from Zion School to Mt. Pleasant Schools eventually enrolling in her beloved Hay Long High School. Many of her lifelong friends were her fellow graduates of the Class of 1957. She delighted in keeping in contact and visiting with her friends.
After high school, she enrolled and finished coursework at the Columbia Business School and then began working at Commerce Union Bank. While working at the bank one of her coworkers introduced her to what would soon become her husband, Jesse Ray Quirk. She and Jesse were married on October 28, 1960, at the McCains Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Jesse was a sailor in the US Navy, and they spent the next few years living the life of an enlisted family. In 1961 while Jesse was stationed in Millington, TN, Janice gave birth to their oldest son Jimmy at the Naval Hospital in Millington. A few years later Janice and Jesse would return to her hometown of Mt. Pleasant where they would take up residence again. Janice became a housewife while Jesse worked in the chemical plants. 1964 brought them their second son, Jeffrey Robert Quirk and the very next year the family moved to their new home on Maple Street in Mt. Pleasant. Janice began to work part-time jobs in the late 1960s and then went to work full-time at the Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation. In the late 1970s, she began to work at the First Bank of Maury County and later at First Farmers and Merchants Bank. An opportunity opened for her to begin work with Dr. Michael Tyler in the 1980s where she worked until her retirement in May 2002. By this time, she and Jesse had moved to her family farm on Canaan Road.
Upon her retirement, Janice took great delight and pride in having one of the cleanest houses in Maury County. Her family and friends always knew you could go to her home and never find a speck of dust, and everything was always in place. Her house was always a place that had a nice home-cooked meal, beautiful indoor plants, music, and a warm welcome for all. She and Jesse loved to raise fruits and vegetables as well as many types of flowers. Something was always in bloom at Janice’s. In her retirement, she also loved traveling with her friends and family. In 2015 Janice and Jesse moved to Wyndham Park in Columbia where they had a happy life living around new and old friends. She also loved singing in the choir at the Mt. Pleasant First United Methodist Church where she was a long-time member.
Janice is survived by her son Jeff, daughter–in–law Anna (Wilson) Quirk, grandson Samuel Jeffrey Quirk. Other survivors are her sisters-in-law, Jean (Staggs) Erwin and Gloria Ann (Quirk) Burns. Her nieces and nephews, Pam (Eric) Strickland, Phil (Lauri Kay) Burns, Eric Burns, Angela (Doug) Sherrod, and Michelle (Tony) Thomas, She was preceded in death by her husband, Jesse Ray Quirk, her parents, Leslie and Lillian Erwin, father and mother-in-law, Jesse Lee and Elma Lee Quirk, son, Jimmy Quirk, grandson, Bradley Wilson Quirk, brother, Tommy Erwin, and brothers-in-law, Leroy Burns and Harold Quirk,
The family would like to thank Brookdale Senior Living of Columbia for their care over the past two years. We would also like to thank Maury Regional Medical Center for the assistance they rendered in the last few days to allow Janice and Jesse to be together.
Active Pallbearers will be Sam Quirk, Dr. Michael Tyler, Eric Strickland, Phil Burns, Tony Thomas, Dr. David Hutchings. Honorary Pallbearers will be the staff of Brookdale Senior Living of Columbia and the staff of Dr. Michael Tyler.
Funeral services will be conducted Wednesday at 1:00 P.M. at First United Methodist Church in Mt. Pleasant with Reverend Tommy Vann and her grandson Sam Quirk officiating. Burial will follow in McCains Cemetery. The family will visit with friends Tuesday from 4:00 P.M.-7:00 P.M. at the funeral home and Wednesday from 11:30 A.M. until service time at the church. Condolences may be extended online at www.oakesandnichols.com.
In lieu of flowers and potted plants, the family asks memorials be made to McCains Cumberland Presbyterian Church 3532 McCains Lane Columbia, Tennessee 38401 of Maury Regional Medical Center Healthcare Foundation 1224 Trotwood Avenue Columbia, Tennessee 38401.
