Janie Louise Dillard

Janie Louise Dillard was born on October 10, 1940 in Pushmataha County of Oklahoma to Louis Calvin Wadkins and Fannie Nixon Wadkins. She departed this life on May 11, 2024 in Nocona, Texas at the age of 83. A funeral service will be held at 10:00am, Thursday, May 16, 2024, at the First Baptist Church in Throckmorton, Texas, with Rev. Jesse Edwards officiating. A visitation is planned from 6:00 to 7:00pm, Wednesday, May 15, 2024, at the funeral home, 107 N. Austin, Throckmorton, Texas. Burial will follow the services at the Throckmorton Cemetery under the direction of Smith Family Funeral Homes, Throckmorton.

Janie grew up in and around Clayton, Oklahoma with her 10 brothers which made her a tomboy at heart. She spent the days playing outside, fishing, working in the family's garden and canning the vegetables preserving them for the future. Janie was taught how to survive living off the land.

Janie lived and worked in Throckmorton after marrying George Self in 1958. They had 2 children, Debbie and George Calvin. She owned & operated an upholstery shop and recovered lots of furniture and boats for the public in and around Throckmorton for over 25 years.

She married James "Pee Wee" Byrd in 1980 and gained 4 more children, Belinda, Jim, Donnie, and Brandon Byrd. She made a name for herself as a GREAT cook at a few different restaurants in town.  People raved over the chicken fried steak claiming it was the best they had ever ate. The chocolate cream and coconut cream pies were a work of art and tasted even better. She kept the recipe for her famous chicken enchiladas to herself mostly because she didn't have a written recipe!  She always cooked by memory adding and tasting as she prepared them.

In 2010, Janie married Larry Dillard and they have spent the last 14 years living in Nocona, Texas. They enjoyed upholstery, gardening and fishing. One of her greatest treasures were her 3 GREAT granddaughters Kingsley, Prairie Kate and Addison all born in the month of October. She loved riding her 4-wheeler, and watching Dallas Mavericks basketball and Texas Rangers baseball games.

Janie was preceded in death by her parents, brothers; Buster, Bill, Paul, Raymond, Hartford (Slick), Johnny, Bud, Jackie, & Buck Wadkins and an infant sister Nellie; her son George Calvin Self; and granddaughter Heather Danielle Self.

Survivors include her husband, Larry Dillard; daughter Debbie & husband Stacy Hargrove of Throckmorton, TX, Elizabeth Dillard of Dallas, TX, Belinda Byrd of Mason, TX, Jim Byrd of Seymour, TX, Donnie Byrd of Throckmorton, TX,  Brandon Byrd of Othello, Washington, daughter-in-law Teresa Self of Barnhart, TX, and her children; grandchildren are Chad and wife Samantha Hargrove, Shana Byrd, Calvin Hargrove, Samantha Byrd, Steven Byrd, Ty and wife Cheyanne Self; brother Jimmy and wife Beth Wadkins of Graham, TX, brother-in-law Garry and wife Diane Dillard of Nocona, TX, sister-in-law Donna & Royce Priddy of Throckmorton, TX; several great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, other relatives, friends and loved ones.