Janet Marie Ard

Janet Ard, devoted daughter, sister, wife, mother and grandmother transitioned from this temporal life to her eternal rest on January 19, 2023. Janet was born the fifth of seven children to Ella Louise and Ira Hubert Connell Sr. in Tallahassee on December 14, 1955. She was a resident of Woodville, Florida. Janet was a graduate of Leon High School and while there, was selected as a participant in the National 4-H “Citizenship Washington Focus” leadership experience in our nation’s capital. The wife of 37 years to army veteran Aubrey Jarral Ard Sr., Janet is survived by her five children. Jason Watson and his wife Rebecca of Tallahassee; Brian Watson and his wife Tracey of Madison; Joshua Ard of Tallahassee; Tina Bingham and her husband Faron of Bunnell, Florida and Jennifer Fletcher and her husband Craig of Grand Ridge, Florida. Children from her first husband Neil Watson of Madison include Jason and Brian Watson. Janet was a homemaker and caregiver at heart. She loved and cared for her mother daily for over two decades and enjoyed helping her mom through the daily challenges of ageing. Janet was a devoted mother providing motherly advice and loving words often several times weekly for her children. Janet’s caregiving even covered her love for God’s four legged creatures, some of which temporarily displaced family members in the big king bed. Janet’s six siblings all have kept a close relationship with this tight knit family often having huge feasts at the matriarch, Ella Louise’s home on holidays. Her surviving siblings are: Gail Cipolla and her husband Larry of Kansas City, Missouri; Joan Hiler of Monticello; Ira Connell Jr. and his wife Sabra of Crawfordville; Wayne Connell and his wife Susan of Havana, Florida; Carolyn Rozar and her husband Chip of Woodville; and Tim Connell and his wife Bonita of Havana. Janet is survived by 8 grandchildren, all girls and ranging in age from 3 to 13. They are Eden, Sierra, and Jasmine Watson of Tallahassee; Cheyanne, Mckenzy, Tammy Shay and Emma Bingham of Bunnell and Ava-Marie Fletcher of Grand Ridge. A celebration of life will be held at the First Baptist Church of Wakulla Station (945 Woodville Highway, Crawfordville) on Wednesday, January 25 at 11:00 AM with internment following at the National Veterans Cemetery of Tallahassee (5015 Apalachee Parkway, 32311) at 1:00 PM. Following internment, friends, family, and guests are invited to a reception at the home of Ira and Sabra Connell in Crawfordville. Jared Padgett of Bevis Funeral Home is assisting the family with their arrangements. (850-385-2193 or www.bevisfh.com)

Tributes

Janet Marie Ard

December 14, 1955 - January 19, 2023