Janice Price Harris

Janice Harvey Price passed away peacefully in her sleep on Monday, Feb. 2, 2015, at the home of her son and daughter-in-law, Monty and Susan Price, where she had been lovingly cared for during the last 11 years of her life. Janice was nearly 97.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Darrell and Guenndolyn (Snyder) Harvey; her husband, Howard Price; and her sisters, Phyllis, Virginia and Joan.

Born in Walla Walla in 1918, Janice was the great granddaughter of pioneer settlers. Her childhood years were spent on a wheat ranch at Pleasant View, near Clyde. She loved riding her “Big Black Horse” to the Snake River, eight miles from her home. There, she watched distant trains crossing the newly built trestle at Lyons Ferry. Janice and her sisters walked two miles daily to take grade school classes at a one-room schoolhouse. She attended Prescott High School.

In 1939, the Harvey Ranch home was destroyed by a wheat fire and the family moved to Walla Walla. In 1940, at age 21, Janice became the first woman in Walla Walla County to earn a private pilot’s license. As a young adult, she was an avid flyer.

Janice attended Whitman College, joining Kappa Kappa Gamma Sorority. She met her sweetheart and future husband, Howard S. Price, of Seattle at Whitman. They married in 1941 and built a house on Sumach Street, next to her parents’ (across from what was to become the Little Theatre). There, Janice and Howard raised their five children. Howard farmed wheat land with his father-in-law, Darrell Harvey. The Price family attended St Paul’s Episcopal Church. Janice was a very active parishioner at St. Paul’s, serving on the Alter Guild for many years.

Janice became a widow in 1961 when Howard was killed in a farm accident. As a single parent with growing children, she immediately took charge of her husband’s wheat ranch operations. She learned the business quickly, farming alongside her father at Harvey Ranch. Wheat farming became her passion. She joined the Walla Walla Grain Growers Association, becoming secretary-treasurer. She later married William Harris; they parted after 35 years.

Janice is survived by her sister, Mary Richardson of Spokane; and by her children, Howard “Steve” Price Jr., Peter Price (Sandra), William “Monty” Price III (Susan), Guenndolyn “Gay” Purnell (William) and Darrell Price (Pamela). She had 16 grandchildren and 27 great-grandchildren. Janice loved her family and she loved life, living it to the fullest.

On Monday, Feb. 9, 2015, Janice’s birthday, there will be a memorial service at 10 a.m. at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. This will be followed by a graveside service at 11:15 a.m. at Mountain View Cemetery. At noon there will be a gathering of Janice’s family and friends at the home of Monty and Susan Price, 1417 Melrose St. Memorial contributions can be made to the St. Paul’s Episcopal Church Endowment Fund through Herring Groseclose Funeral Home, 315 W. Alder, Walla Walla, WA 99362