Ivy Jeanette "Janet" Spell, 78, formerly of Orange

Ivy Jeanette “Janet” Spell, 78, passed away peacefully on November 3, 2023, in Abilene, Texas.

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, November 7 at 2 pm, with visitation at 1 pm, at Claybar Funeral Home Bridge City, 800 Highland Ave. Burial will follow at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens, 4560 State Hwy 87, Orange.

Janet, or Mimi to those who knew her best, was born on September 20, 1945, in Buna, Texas. She was the youngest of seven daughters born to Beasley Baker Lightfoot and Lottie Eubanks Lightfoot. She met and married Wilbur Carl Spell, Jr. in 1962 and they were married for 39 years.

Janet spent most of her life in Orange and Bridge City. She moved to Abilene in 2008 to be closer to her only child, Michael Chad and his family, after Hurricane Ike heavily damaged her home in Bridge City. She spent the remainder of her life enjoying her grandchildren, Jacob and Sydney Spell. Janet adored her grandchildren and was incredibly proud of them both.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Wilbur Carl Spell, Jr.; parents Beasley & Lottie Lightfoot; in laws Wilbur & Mae Elizabeth Spell; sisters Bessie O’Neal, Madeline Clark, Mary Louise Parsley, Virginia Rowell, and Martha Wellman; brother-in-law, Sidney Hamilton; and nephew, Stephen Hamilton.

She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Michael and Amanda Spell and grandchildren, Jacob & Sydney Spell, all of Abilene; sister, Gayle Monk of Beaumont; sisters-in-law, Fay Hamilton and Connie (Pat) LeMaire, all of Bridge City; nieces, Pat (Joe) Siebert of Beaumont, Regina (Bryan) Caraway of Bridge City and Christine (Thaddeus) Dryden of Friendswood; nephew, David Monk of West Orange; great nieces, Madison Caraway and Emory Dryden and a host of extended family.

The family would like to give special thanks to Belen Garza for her loving care of Mimi during the last year of her life. Additional thanks to Brenna Camp, her counselor for the last several years, who helped us all as we walked this journey together. The family would also like to thank Hendrick Hospice Care, especially Nurse Sarah, Nurse Angie, and Mimi’s aide, Sarah for their amazing care. Memorial donations can be made to Hendrick Hospice Care, 1651 Pine Street, Abilene, TX, 79601.