Janet Jo Williamson Tate
1951-2012

Janet Jo Williamson Tate, 61, passed away on Saturday, September 15, 2012 at Southeast Colorado Hospital, having lived three times longer than was predicted at her diagnosis of lung cancer. Janet, a lifelong Walsh resident, will be remembered for her wonderful smile, humor, wit, friendships, kind heart and her uncanny ability to make anyone feel special.
Kelly Ray Williamson and Maxine Louise Jones Williamson welcomed their fifth child on August 5th, 1951 in Lamar, Colorado. She was raised on a broom corn farm southeast of Walsh. The country was a perfect fit for Janet as she had an unparalleled love and compassion for animals. She had numerous pets, often gaining more as they mysteriously just happened to follow her home.
While attending Walsh schools, Janet became active in band and choir. She developed a love and appreciation for music that lasted her entire life. Janet met the love of her life while attending school. It just happened that she rode the same bus to school as Bobby Dean Tate. June 1st, 1969 just a few days after her graduation from high school, they were married.
Janet and her new groom moved to Golden, Colorado so she could attend School of Cosmetology in Denver. Multiple hair colors and styles were the norm in the Tate household as Janet perfected her trade. Following in her mother's footsteps, she graduated from cosmetology school in December of 1970. Upon graduation, she moved to her favorite place, Walsh. She worked for Donna's Swirl & Curl Salon. In 1975, she chose to stay home with her children. She went back to work when the children were of school age. She opened her own salon, Janet's Beauty and Barber, in 1985. She lured customers with her smile, charm, style, and of course, her candy bowl with Laffy Taffy. She became an instructor at Lamar Community College in 2009 passing on her years of expertise to students. She loved teaching and took great satisfaction from it.
Janet was blessed with the birth of her oldest child, Bradley Dean Tate, on October 16th, 1970 in Denver. Janet's love as a mother was instant and powerful. It was easy to see the sheer happiness her children brought her. On January 18th of 1973, Brandon Michael Tate came to share in her love. A third, Brian Scott Tate was born on February 26th of 1975. This completed her family for a while. Her devotion and time spread among the three active boys. In the bitter cold of a blizzard on the 15th of November, 1979, a beautiful baby girl showed up to give Janet the girl she always wanted. Janet was the constant coach and cheerleader to all her children's endeavors. She travelled the whole of the plains to watch her kids sporting events for over two decades. She loved every success and was there to encourage and soothe every failure. Later when her kids were grown, her grandkids were on the receiving end of her love and support.
Janet had many hobbies through the years. Bowling was one of her favorites. Reading was predominant in her life. Seldom did you see her without a book at home. One of her favorite things to read was her mom's writings.
Janet was preceded in death by her grandparents, Clarence and Lena Jones, her parents, Ray and Maxine Williamson, her parents in-law, Beryl and Colma Rae Tate, her sister, Constance, her brother, Bill. Janet is survived by her husband, Bob, of 43 years, her siblings, Kelly Williamson Jr. (Lynette), Joan Ulibarri (Gene), Vicki Baldridge (Garry), and Bob Williamson (Jackie), her children, Brad Tate (Julie), Brandon Tate (Carol), Brian Tate (Kylie) and Kendra Miller (Russ), and sixteen grandkids, Channing, Chyanne, Justin, Brooke, Anthony, Ciarra, Braedyn, Brendnn, Britt, Beau, Kaia, Mayah, Jaydin, Caitlin, Zylan, and Levi.