Janice Strate

Janice Strate, 79, of Pampa, passed away on January 20, 2026, in Pampa.

Viewing for Janice will be 1:00 – 8:00 PM, Thursday, January 22, 2026, and 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM on Friday, January 23, 2026.

The family will receive friends from 6:00 – 7:00 PM, Friday at the funeral home.

A memorial graveside will be announced at a later date. Arrangements and cremation are under the direction of Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors and Crematory.

Janice was born on December 2, 1946, in Perryton to Lester and Lucy Schwalk. She grew up on the family farm in Ochiltree County with her parents and 4 siblings. She often talked about life on the farm. Janice was in charge of cooking breakfast daily for the entire family beginning at about the age of 5. She would stand on a chair in front of the stove, cooking, until she was tall enough to reach the stove by herself.

She graduated from Perryton High School. While in high school, she was very active in 4-H being part in many of their programs. After graduating, Janice started her family. She lived and worked in several different towns and cities, including Perryton, Hooker, Muskogee, Guymon, Odessa, and Pampa.

Janice wore many different hats occupationally. During her life she owned a grocery store and craft store. She had a love for antiques, decorating and crafts. She enjoyed creating silk bouquets and flower arrangements for weddings. Janice had also owned a restaurant and pharmacy in Perryton Texas, which were located in a building that used to be a hospital. The restaurant was located on the top and the pharmacy on the bottom. This is where she met the love of her life, Dr. Gerald Strate, who worked for her as the pharmacist. They married on August 4, 1978, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and shared many years of love and companionship before he preceded her in death on January 4, 2022.

In 1980, Janice and Gerald would move to Pampa where Janice would start her own craft store business, “New Horizon Two”. Later, she pursued a career as a social worker at Panhandle Community Services, that she thoroughly enjoyed and that gave her much purpose. Janice was a faithful woman who loved Jesus, who was her Lord and Savior. She read her Bible daily. Her family was the most important thing to her, and she always loved the opportunity to host her family, especially for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Janice was loving and kind and will be remembered as an outgoing, fun-loving woman who will be missed by her family and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; son, Kurt Pounds; and by two brothers, Bob and Larry Schwalk.

Janice is survived by three daughters, DeLisa Oats and husband Graham, Kim Felix and husband Adam, and Zee Strate- Webster and husband Matthew; grandchildren, Tyson Pounds, Kamran Pounds, Nathaniel Pounds, Caitlin Pounds- Allen and husband Jake, Chayce Glenn and husband Logan, Karson McKay, and Mia Felix; greatgrandchildren, Bently Pounds, Lucas Glenn, and one great-grandchild on the way; sister, Glynes LaRue and husband David; brother, Garry Schwalk and wife Peggy; daughter-in-law, Dorothea Pounds; and other extended family.