Janie Pearlene Browers Sowards was born in Dill City, Oklahoma on May 15, 1922 and departed this life in Stroud, Oklahoma on Tuesday, December 17, 2013 at the age of 91 years.

Janie was the daughter of John Walter and Sallie Messick Browers.

She was a resident of Stroud.

She graduated from Prague High School and went on to Hill's Business College in Oklahoma City.

Throughout her life, Janie loved music, social events, and meeting people. She helped establish the Stroud Chapter of the Business and Professional Women's Club and was very active in BPW activities. She served as state president for BPW and testified to the U.S. Congress in support of equal rights for women. She also worked with the Miss Stroud and Miss Oklahoma Pageants for several years.

Janie always loved her music. She played piano in her father's churches and was an organist at the Stroud United Methodist Church for several years. In recents years, her happiest times were listening to the wonderful musicians and church members who volunteered at the Stroud Health Care Center.

Above all, Janie loved being with her family and many dear friends. She was married to William Gassaway from 1944 to 1965, and they had one daughter, Janie Beth.

She married Verlin James "Bud" Sowards in Stroud on July 29, 1966 and he preceded her in death on July 19, 2006.

She was also preceded in death by her parents, and five brothers, Arville, R.E., Walter, Clyde and Bill.

Survivors include one daughter, Janie Beth Atwater of Lawrence, Kansas, two sisters, Dolly Womack of Deland, Florida and Lucrecia and husband Bill Beverage of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, one grandson and wife, Daniel Atwater and Eleanor Lahr of Reno, Nevada, one great grandson, Nathaniel Atwater, many nephews and nieces, as well as other relatives and friends.

Funeral service will be held at the First United Methodist Church in Stroud at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, December 23, 2013 with Pastor Ashley Green-Young officiating.

Burial will be in the Stroud Cemetery under the direction of Parks Brothers Funeral Service in Stroud, Oklahoma.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the American Heart Association or Oklahoma Medical Research.