Martha Jane "Janie" Welch, age 73, of the Salem Community, passed away Friday, March 24, 2023.  She was born October 3, 1949 in Benton, Arkansas.  Janie retired with 21 years from the Department of Education.  She has been a member of Spring Creek Baptist Church for 20 years where she sang in the choir and taught AWANA.  Janie enjoyed camping and being with family.

She is preceded in death by her grandparents, Andrew & Ella Roberts and F. L. & Elsie Schrimshire; and her father, Edgar Dwain Elder.

Janie is survived by her husband of 51 years, James "Jim" Welch; two daughters, Jennifer Thornburgh (Guy) and Amy Welch; her mother, Dorothy Elder; three sisters, Elizabeth Carter (Jimmy), Brenda Banks (Tommy), and Susan Jacoby; nine nieces & nephews, Keilani Chandler (John), Blake Welch, Chrissy Keith, Deric (JP) Davenport, Drew Farley, Dustyn Crossland, Savanna Crossland, Christina Copeland, and Jennifer Holthoff (Zep); and six great nieces & nephews, Ella Blair Keith, Conner Keith, Beth Chandler, Katie Chandler, Holly Chandler, and Deacon Davenport.

Visitation will be 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Tuesday, March 28 at Ashby Funeral Home

Funeral services will be 1:00 p.m. Wednesday, March 29 at Ashby Funeral Home with burial at Pinecrest Memorial Park.  Dr. Terry Parrish will be officiating.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Spring Creek Baptist Church @ 19200 I-30 in Benton, Ar 72019 or call 501-315-4569.