Janet Bare

Memorial services for Janet Lee Edge Bare, 84, of Ada, will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, July 23, 2026, at Ada First Methodist Church. The Rev. Brian Matthews will officiate. The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at Criswell Funeral Home.

Janet passed away Sunday, July 19, 2026, while residing at Somerset Neighborhood Assisted Living Center in Oklahoma City. She was born Feb. 8, 1942, in Poteau, Oklahoma, to John Diamond Edge and Dollie Mae Inman Edge.

Janet married her eighth-grade sweetheart, Albert Claude Bare, in 1958 in McAlester, Oklahoma. They both graduated from McAlester High School in 1960 and moved to Ada to attend what was then East Central College, where they earned bachelor's and master's degrees. They made Ada their lifelong home, where they raised their three children: Tommy, Tammy and Kenny.

Janet began her teaching career as the music teacher at Irving Elementary School, where she taught for one year before spending the remainder of her more than 40-year career at Willard Elementary School. During that time, she taught music, served as a classroom teacher, became the school's computer teacher and later worked as the math intervention teacher. Albert and Janet leave behind a legacy of educators, including all three of their children, many grandchildren and dozens of former students who entered the teaching profession because of their influence.

One of the greatest honors of Janet's career was being named District Teacher of the Year. She was instrumental in bringing computer education to the Ada school system in the 1980s through the use of Apple IIe computers. Janet's greatest passion was teaching music. She wanted her students not only to learn music but also to develop a lifelong appreciation for it, believe in themselves and pursue their dreams. She was well known for directing hundreds of schoolwide Christmas pageants, talent shows and musical productions. Janet was a longtime member of her church choir and handbell choir and was active in community theater, where she starred in the female version of "The Odd Couple."

While Janet loved her students, it was her own children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren who truly stole her heart. She devoted her free time to supporting their activities, including athletics, music, church, dance, cheer, coaching, pageants and anything else in which they were involved. Her family knew they could always count on Mom and Grandma to be there, even if it meant riding the team bus. She became famous within the family for making her annual birthday phone call to sing "Happy Birthday," a tradition she continued even as her voice weakened in later years.

When Janet wasn't attending one of her family's events, she enjoyed playing bridge with her many bridge groups, baking for others, sewing, reading and, in later years, playing dominoes and Five Crowns with her longtime friends Pat Powell and Dorotha Fenton. After moving to her assisted living community in Oklahoma City, she delighted in teaching fellow residents how to play Train Dominoes and enjoyed singing at many of the community's group functions.

Janet was a devoted member of First Methodist Church for decades, where she was active in United Methodist Women and her Sunday school class. One of the ministries she loved most was creating and organizing the church's card ministry. She spent countless hours maintaining lists of those in need of prayer, encouragement or simply a cheerful note. She designed cards for every occasion and later met with her church group to prepare and mail them. She also was a proud member of Kappa Kappa Iota.

Survivors include two sons, Tommy (Margie) Bare of Kingston, Oklahoma, and Kenny (Julie) Bare of Velma, Oklahoma; one daughter, Tammy (Allen) Shutler of Oklahoma City; grandchildren Thomas (Alicia) Bare, Kyle Bare, Ryan (Stephanie) Meeks, Tessa Shutler, Alyssa Parks, Laney Shutler, Katie (Adam) Pogue, Alexandra (James) Crafton and Dallas (Kayla) Bare; 17 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; dozens of nieces and nephews; and her brother, John (Jerri) Edge.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Albert Bare; her brother, Jim Edge; and her sister, Pat Withrow.

Janet's favorite color was blue and she loved bright and colorful clothes. To honor this, the family is requesting attendees of the memorial service wear something either blue or bright and colorful.