Janet Marie Sadler passed away peacefully on October 12, 2024 at her home in Orange, Texas with her husband, Alvin Sadler, of almost fifty years by her side along with her son, Duane Sadler and her sister-in-law, Marsha Doucet, after a long fight with dementia. She was 77 and truly lived an abundant life.
Janet was born on January 16, 1947 in Beaumont, TX to Jewel and Agnes Jones. She was the middle child of three sisters. Janet, Vivian, her oldest sister, and Eileen, her youngest sister, grew up in Lake Arthur, Louisiana because her father got a job at Superior Oil Company. She described her childhood as “very happy” and she shared a very special bond with her little sister, Eileen, which continued throughout her entire life. Janet excelled in school and graduated high school as the Valedictorian of Lake Arthur High School in 1965. She received scholarships to attend McNeese State University where she earned a B.A. and M.Ed. in Elementary Education. At McNeese, she met her best friend, Manor, who she said, “was life-saver for a very homesick young lady.” Upon graduation, Manor, Eileen, and Janet spent some time living in California. When Janet realized she wasn’t going to be able to find a job as a teacher there, she informed Eileen and Manor that she was going back to Orange to sign her teaching contract there. Thus, Janet began her vocation in Education at Anderson Elementary School in West Orange ISD where she worked as an 1st-4th grade elementary school teacher, the HOSTS Reading teacher, and the TAAS/TAKS Mastery teacher for 35 years. She absolutely loved teaching and children with all her heart and communicated with them in a way that made them feel loved and special. At Anderson Elementary, she made many life-long friends who she shared her life with and showed up for them when they needed her. Upon retirement, she said, “The best aspect of working in education is helping children to learn the educational and social skills that they will need to lead productive lives.” For 26 years she was a part of Delta Kappa Gamma-Theta Chapter, an education professional honor society for key women educators. She and other members helped shop, pack, and ship boxes with items requested from soldiers serving overseas. They also raised donations for wounded soldiers and their families.
In 1974, she met and dated Alvin Curtis Sadler for six months. They married on November 27, 1974. They had two children, Laurie and Duane. When asked what were the happiest moments of her life, she said, “Marrying Alvin and the days when her children were born.” Janet and Alvin valued education for Laurie and Duane and helped them both achieve academically. Janet was also an active member of MacArthur Heights Baptist Church for forty-seven years where she faithfully taught Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, and was always happy to bring a meal to a potluck. In her personal life, she loved spending time with her family and especially time with her sister, Eileen. When they got together, there was always laughter! Also, she very much valued time with her best friend, Manor and her family, the Cavalieres. On the Sadler side, she loved Minnie and Alvin Mainard Sadler, Alvin’s parents, and described them as “the best in-laws ever.” She was a devoted daughter to her mother, Agnes Jones, traveling to Lake Arthur to visit her and also cared for her before she passed away. Celebrating Thanksgiving, Christmas, birthdays, vacations, and family gatherings with the Reynolds, Sadlers, Doucets, and Cavalieres were her absolute favorite things. Her hobbies and interests included watching movies, reading, decorating her home, enjoying her flower garden, watching the hummingbirds, shopping, crafts, and organizing family photo albums. One of the greatest joys of her life was when she got to be Grammy to Corazon Arriaga, her only granddaughter. Caring for and playing with Cora was a wonderful gift in the last years of her life.
One of Janet’s favorite Bible verses was Galations 5:13-14, “Serve one another in love.” The entire law is summed up in a single command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Janet did love others well. She was a warm, kind, caring, loving wife, Mother, sister, sister-in-law, aunt, cousin, friend, and teacher. She believed and loved Jesus. John 3:16 is highlighted in her Bible. It brings her family and friends great comfort that she is now with her Savior and her loved ones who have gone before her. Janet will be dearly missed by all her family and friends.
Janet is preceded in death by her parents, Jewel and Agnes Jones, Joanna Marie Sadler (daughter), Vivian Gattis (sister), R.J. Reynolds (brother-in-law), Jerry Gattis (brother-in-law), Minnie and Alvin Mainard Sadler (mother and father-in-law), and Jerry Sadler (brother-in-law).
Ms. Sadler is survived by her husband, Alvin Sadler, her son Duane Sadler, Laurie Arriaga (daughter), Orlando Arriaga (son-in-law), Corazon Arriaga (granddaughter), Eileen Reynolds (sister), Terry Reynolds and Heather Sams (nieces), Ryan Reynolds (nephew), Julie Gattis (niece), Marsha Doucet (sister-in-law), George Doucet (brother-in-law), Stephanie Rebecca Williams (niece), Jonathan Doucet (nephew), Manor and Frank Cavaliere and their children, Clay, Courtney, and Carrie (life-long friends), Tonya and Eddie Burns (life long friends), Billy Sadler (brother-in-law) and Debra Sadler (sister-in-law), Gerda Sadler (sister-in-law), and Sandra Sadler (niece).
Our deepest gratitude to Sabrina, Chenat, Kari, Staci, Robin, Cristi, Br. Jeff, Dr. Mike, and everyone else at Southeast Texas Hospice who took such amazing care of her at home during her final months.
A memorial service will be held on Friday, October 18, 2024, at Dorman Funeral Home. Please wear casual dress clothes and if you have something green, Janet’s favorite color, and wouldn’t mind wearing it, we think she would have liked that. Pastor Jay Thomas of MacArthur Heights Baptist Church will be officiating. Visitation of family and friends will be held from 11 a.m.- 12 p.m. prior to service starting at 12:00 p.m. A procession will ensue after the service to the grave site at Autumn Oaks Memorial Park Cemetery. Arrangements were made under the direction of Dorman Funeral Home.
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