Janice Labar Bourg

Janice Labar Bourg passed away May 1, 2022. She was born Janice Marilyn Shofner on June 18, 1939 in Lubbock, to Homer and Lola Shofner, 8 years after her brother Troyce.

After a few years in Bangs, Texas, her family moved to Harlingen when she was four. Homer began farming the land Valley Vista Mall sits on, and they rented a house across from Rainbo Bakery. Janice recalled, "Mom and I would stand on our front porch every day about 4 p.m. to smell the fresh bread."

Janice and her first cousin, Janice Sue Shofner, were closer than most sisters and lived only blocks apart after Janice's family moved to 12th & Taylor. Their names were so similar, she became Janice Marilyn.

Janice Marilyn was part of a tight knit girls group at Gay Junior High and Harlingen High School. They played pool and listened to music in Janice Sue's "Happy Days" rec room above the garage; often went to Hygeia after class; and began dating. Janice dated football star Wayne Labar most of the time; was a cheerleader; was voted FFA Sweetheart and one of the senior class favorites; and spent most of her time with the "Fab 8" girls group.

Janice attended the University of Texas in Austin for two years, where she pledged Alpha Chi Omega. Wayne had gone to Texas A&M University to play football for Coach Bear Bryant, but the two finally spent enough time dating to get engaged. They were married in December of Wayne's junior year, and returned to Harlingen after Wayne graduated so he could begin farming. Their twin daughters, Shaun and Sheryl, were born in 1963; daughter Dana Paige was born in 1967,

Both Janice and Wayne were active in the Harlingen community. Janice was Junior Service League President, and was active in both the PTA and her PEO chapter. They were the youngest ever Don and Dona in the Algodon Club. Janice worked part-time over the years at Long Chilton, the First Baptist Church, and San Benito Bank & Trust; decorated extensively country club homes and The Lemon Tree — but was always home when her girls got out of school. Janice said many times, "I was so lucky to have two great sisters-in-law — Wanda Houston Labar (Wanda Carruth), wife of Wayne's brother George, and Nancy Cooper Shofner, Troyce's wife.

Janice was devastated in 2004 by Wayne's death at age 65, a few months shy of their 45th anniversary. In 2010, Dana Paige passed away at age 43.

Two years after Wayne's death, several members of the Harlingen High School Class of '56 coaxed Janice into attending their 50th reunion. She and Johnny Bourg, a baseball teammate of Wayne's, were mutually attracted enough to sustain a long distance relationship. Six months later, John moved back to his hometown Harlingen and the two were inseparable from day one. They were married in August 2009, and made a lot of friends at the Harlingen Country Club. Janice said, "John and I have spent a wonderful 15 years together, and I know how lucky I was to have two great loves."

Janice leaves behind husband John; daughters, Shaun Wadkins (Charlie) and Sheryl Norman (Kevin); niece, Vicki Shofner Kinzler (Dennis); grandchildren, Wayne Wadkins (Amanda), Clinton Wadkins (Mercedes), Spencer Wadkins (Kylie Jo), Morgan Williams (Malcolm), Mason McMurray (Savannah), and John Kaleb; great grandchildren, Aurora and Scarlett Hall (Wayne and Amanda's daughters), Maren Mae and Millie Jo (Spencer and Kylie Jo's daughters), Madelynn Lu (Clinton and Mercedes' daughter), and Jasper Daniel (Morgan and Malcolm's son).

The family wishes to thank Kindred Hospice for their wonderful, loving care of Janice in her last weeks.

Janice's family and friends will gather to celebrate her life on Friday, May 6, 2022 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Buck Ashcraft San Benito Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Janice's name to the Alzheimer Research Foundation (alzheimersresearchfoundation.com) or Calvary Christian School (calvarywarriors.org).