Janice Lavon Allscheid, 77, (nee McDowell) of Waterloo and New Cuyama, Calif., lost her battle with cancer on Aug. 6, 2015, at Mercy Hospital Jefferson in Crystal City, Mo.

She was born June 28, 1938, in Walker Village, Minn., daughter of the late William Kenneth and Alma Loretta McDowell.

Her family moved to California in 1941 with $35 and no car to start a new life out west.  Janice graduated from St. Pius X High School in Downey, Calif. She worked at the Pacific Telephone Company in the accounting office. Ultimately, she left the Los Angeles area seeking a better life for her children and moved to Santa Barbara, Calif., and then to the Santa Ynez Valley.

Janice was a waitress at the Ballard Store Restaurant, where she told stories of serving many movie stars and President Reagan. Janice and her eldest son, Craig, bought the Grey Ranch in New Cuyama, Calif., where she raised various farm animals, a herd of goats and four of her grandchildren.  Janice was known for her kind soul, no-nonsense attitude and deep love for her family.

Janice is survived by her husband Virlyn (Buddy) Allscheid; brother Joseph McDowell; twin sister JoAnn (Ted) Jones; children Craig Duncan, Chris Duncan, and Danielle (Johnny) Breck; stepchildren Tammy (John) Krebel, Vince (Diane) Allscheid, Vickie Allscheid, Jeanette (Ryan) Wade, and Bryan (Jennifer) Allscheid; grandchildren Justin (Shawn) Duncan, Tyler (Haley) Duncan, Jennifer (Nick) Poletti, Benny (Jenna) Breck, Holly Breck, Cody Voss, Olivia Voss, Dylan Allscheid, and Jake Wade; great-grandchildren Jaycee, Quincy, and Beau; numerous foster children; and many family and friends.

A memorial service will be at 3 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 8, at Our Lady of Good Counsel, Renualt.

Interment will be at Oak Hill Cemetery in Ballard, Calif.