Janis Frank Matthews

Janis Gail Frank Matthews, 70, of League City, TX, passed away on March 12, 2024, after a brief battle with pancreatic cancer.
Janis was born on November 2, 1953, to Anna Mae Deville Frank and Murry Joseph Frank in Beaumont, TX. She spent her primary years attending Blessed Sacrament, ultimately graduating from Beaumont High School in 1972. After high school, she attended Lamar University, where she studied speech pathology. After graduating, she worked at UTMB as a child life specialist, where she was responsible for helping children adjust to hospitalization and making sure children were able to keep up with their school work while being hospitalized. She retired as the director of the Child Life and School Services department after 30 years of service.
In 1978, Janis married the love of her life, Douglas Wayne Matthews, after meeting at Gibson's grocery store in Beaumont, TX. Doug says he knew she was the one the moment he saw her, however, it took him six years to convince her the same thing. To this loving union, a son Murry Johnathan, and daughters, Ashley Elizabeth and Alexandra Frank, were born.
Janis was a dedicated wife, mother, and grandmother and would do absolutely anything for her family. Her absolute favorite thing in the world was being a devoted grandmother/GiGi to her four grandchildren, Landon, Bailey, Hudson, and Carter. She was immensely proud of her family and never missed a moment to let them (or anyone else) know. She was always ready with a comforting hug, a listening ear, and encouraging words.
Following in her parents' footsteps, Janis joined the Knights and Ladies of St. Peter Claver (KPC), directly after high school, where she was a member of the Ladies Auxiliary for over 50 years. After moving to Galveston, she joined Madonna Court 20, where she assisted in numerous activities for the good of the order, including chairing the annual Mother-Daughter Breakfast, co-chairing the bylaws committee, and ultimately serving as Grand Lady for the last four years, even winning Grand Lady of the Year for the state of Texas. In addition to serving her local court, she was a Gracious Lady of the Fourth Degree Ladies of Grace, the highest degree bestowed upon members of the Knights of Peter Claver, Inc.
She was a devout, active, and faithful member of Holy Rosary Church of Holy Family Parish for over 45 years, where she was involved in many parish activities, including being a charter member of Krewe d' Esprit Rosaire, serving as a lector, altar assistant, former catechism teacher, graduation committee member, and collection counter. As a deacon's wife, she assisted wherever needed.
She was a proud member of the illustrious Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and was initiated into the Beta Phi Omega chapter in 1982. Through her community service, she embodied the sorority's mission, "Service to All Mankind."
Janis' dedication to her community also extended to Childhood Cancer Connection (formerly The Rainbow Connection). In the spring of 1984, she helped to cofound The Rainbow Connection, a nonprofit organization that has supported thousands of children and their families diagnosed with cancer and blood disorders. She was a passionate advocate and dedicated her life's work "so that kids despite illness can be kids". Even after retiring as the camp director, Janis continued to serve on the Childhood Cancer Connection board as a past president and Camp Director Emeritus of The Rainbow Connection Camp.
Janis was an avid reader and loved traveling (especially somewhere with a beach). She diligently kept up with current events and home improvement trends and reveled in being the ultimate host.
Janis was preceded in death by her parents, Murry and Anna Frank. She is survived by her loving husband of 45 years, Douglas Matthews, son Murry Matthews, daughters Ashley Matthews-Greenleaf (Christopher) and Alexandra Matthews-Clay (Corrington), and grandchildren Landon Clay, Hudson Clay, Bailey Greenleaf, and Carter Greenleaf, sister Rhonda Frank, sisters-in-law La Cherry Matthews, Ella Matthews, and Jeri Matthews, brother-in-law John Matthews, nieces Ursula Matthews, Johnette Matthews, La Dora Matthews, Bianca Johnson, and Mya Jenkins, grand-nephew Nathan "Nate" Albert, granddogs Boosie and CeCe, and numerous cousins, friends, and extended family.
Services will be held at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Galveston, TX. Visitation is Friday, March 22nd, from 5:00–7:00 p.m., and the funeral will be on Saturday, March 23rd, at 10:00 a.m. Burial will follow at Mount Olivet Cemetery in Dickinson under the direction of Carnes Brothers Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Childhood Cancer Connection, www.rccamp.org/donate/ an organization Janis was extremely passionate about.