Janet Williams Pollard

Janet Williams Pollard, 90, entered her heavenly home on the 19th of July, 2026 at her home in Midland, Texas lovingly surrounded by her four sons.

Janet was born on September 21, 1935 in Fort Stockton, Texas to Clayton Wheat Williams and Chicora “Chic” Graham Williams. Janet was raised in the town of her birth and lived there until she attended the University of Oklahoma. Her childhood was shared with her older brother Clayton “Claytie” W. Williams, Jr. Her lifelong childhood friends from Fort Stockton were Dulcie Ligon Boykin and Jane Adams Garlitz. Her parents were very active in the Fort Stockton community. Her father had farm and ranch land and she was exposed to the cowboy life and horses at an early age. To her father’s dismay she participated in an all-girls rodeo by riding a bull as well other rodeo events; and of course she was a FSHS cheerleader. She studied Spanish in school and was fluent in Spanish her entire life. She graduated from Fort Stockton High in 1953 and entered the University of Oklahoma where she was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma. She fell in love with a Kappa Alpha from Kansas City, Missouri named Robert “Bob” West Pollard her freshman year. They were married on March 31, 1955 of their sophomore year in First Methodist Church in Fort Stockton. While still at OU their first son, Scott, was born in 1957. The years that Bob and Janet were at OU the football team set the NCAA record of over four consecutive undefeated seasons under Coach Bud Wilkinson (47 games). The month they both graduated in 1959 their second son Clay was born. After graduation Bob took a job with J.&L Steel in sales. The role took their family briefly to Chicago, Pittsburg and eventually to Waukesha, WI from 1962 to 1964. During this time the third son Graham was born in 1964. In order to get closer to Janet’s parents Bob took a job in Midland and the family moved to Texas. In Midland where they rented homes on Dengar, Gulf and Cimmaron. Janet’s brother Claytie helped Bob transition to landwork and he was an Independent Landman for the rest of his life. In 1968 they built a home at 2200 Gulf (corner of Gulf and “N”) where their fourth son Adam was brought home from the hospital in 1971. Even though Janet’s parents, Papaw Clayt and Grandma Chic, lived 100 miles away in Fort Stockton, they were a big part of the Pollard family and came to every event in their lives from birthdays to sporting events.

In the early years in Midland, the family was a member of St. Luke’s Methodist Church then the family moved to First Presbyterian in 1976 and eventually to First Baptist in 1990. Bob and Janet attended and “Shepherded” the young married couples Sunday School Class at First Baptist for years. Bob and Janet would host retreats for the class at her brother’s Alpine Ranch. Janet would treat them to jeep rides in the mountains. It was often said that it was as scary as it was fun to be her passenger on the mountain jeep trails. She would refer to scripture as the formula for a healthy marriage and would challenge the couples to have a deeper relationship with the Lord. She was very powerful in her prayer life. They loved her laugh and the sparkle in her eyes.

Janet loved the spotlight, had a huge personality and never met a stranger. Bob was content to be on the sideline enjoying the show. They were a perfect fit together. They loved each other dearly and had a fun, happy marriage until Bob’s death in 2004. They loved to travel during their marriage and Janet continued to travel after his death. One of their favorite trips was to the Holy Land.

After Bob’s death Janet kept occupied with bible studies and Christian ministries. She often ministered to people down on their luck and her home was opened up to people who needed a place to stay. She gave out hundreds of copies of the book Jesus Calling. She was constantly bringing new people into her life. Her father, Clayton Sr., authored many books on West Texas history. Janet shared his love for the family history and took up writing. Janet had made a promise to her father on his deathbed in 1983 to write his biography. It took a while but in 2011 Texas A&M University Press published Harsh Country, Hard Times (Clayton Wheat Williams and the Transformation of the Trans-Pecos) written by Janet and Louis Gwin. Claytie and Janet donated all of the family archives to the Haley Memorial Library.

Janet was fascinated by the voluminous amount of material and consequently was inspired to work for ten years with Jim N. Hammond to compile a book of her grandfather, Judge O. W. Williams’ (1853-1946) writings. The book was titled Oscar Waldo Williams – Saga of a Pioneer Spirit. It was published under the direction of Dr. Randy L. Armstrong by Four-O Publishing, Abilene, Texas in 2020. Jim N. Hammond was previously with the Annie Riggs Museum in Fort Stockton, but is now with Fort Belknap in Newcastle, Texas. It was amazing that late in life Janet worked diligently to publish these two books. In the years researching for the books, she travelled and befriended many notable individuals such as Winston Churchill’s granddaughter Celia Sandys who treated her to dinner at the House of Lords with Lord Gordon Wasserman, Head of Scottland Yards and John Wayne’s granddaughter Anita Swift.

As a Kappa at OU she made lifelong friends and none closer than the late Doris Ann Duncan, Barbara Bross or Kay Salyer. She enjoyed being a Kappa and many years later she was a featured singer at the Kappa’s national convention. She loved to sing and play the piano. She always had dual pianos in her home and would entertain guests along with dear friend Jim Ross. She and Jim recorded a CD with him on the piano and her vocals. She regretted not majoring in music at OU as she always loved to play and sing. In 1968 she played the role of Nancy in the play Oliver at Midland Community theater. In the 1969/70 school year she taught music at Trinity School and taught the class a Spanish song “Guantanamera”. In the 1970’s she formed a band named JP and the Boys with friend and drummer Gary Burnett. The band performed at the Fort Stockton Water Carnival and many of Claytie’s famous Ranch Parties.

Her life was very intertwined with that of her brother Claytie, his wife Modesta and their family. Claytie would call Janet “Sister Phoebe the Golden Girl”. Modesta and Janet loved each other dearly and were always there for each other. Claytie, Modesta, Bob and Janet travelled together often in the early years of raising their families and often hosted parties and events together. Claytie and Janet were both very involved in the lives of each others’ children. Janet and Claytie’s families celebrated all holidays together while Clayton Sr. and Chic were alive and for many years afterwards until the extended families grew too large. When the sons started their own families Bob and Janet would host a “Granny Camp” in Midland for the grandchildren.

She is survived by her four sons Robert Scott “Scott” Pollard (Debbie); Clayton Jefferson “Clay” Pollard (Jeanne); Graham West Pollard (Chris) and Adam Files Pollard. She is also survived by eight grandchildren: Ashlee Pollard Getsay (Ben); Meredith Pollard Thomas (Tony); Clayton J. Pollard, Jr. (Alice); Stephanie Blair Pollard; Mary Claire Tippen (Brendan); Addison Chicora Pollard; Andrew “Andy” Robert Pollard; Jackson “Jack” Files Pollard and eight great-grandchildren: Kinsley Thomas, Callie Getsay, Parker Thomas, Blake Getsay, Clayton James “CJ” Pollard, Evelyn “Evie” Pearl Pollard, Forrest Wade Tippen III and James Robert Tippen. She is also survived by three widowed sisters-in-law: Modesta S. Williams (Claytie); Tina Pollard (Dick); Dee Pollard (Russell) as well as many nephews and nieces: Kelvie Cleverdon  (Tim); Allyson Groner (Jerry); Clayton Wade Williams (Kristy); Jeff Williams (Erin), Chim Welborn (Greg), Shelley Pollard-Fore (Dan), Bella Fore; Carrie Pollard and Julie Pollard and numerous great nieces and nephews.

Much gratitude is given to her end-of-life caregivers Aide Deanda (since 2008) and her daughters, Daritza “Dary” Chavez and Citlalli “Cita” Godoy as well as Santa Villareal of Visiting Angels, and Pam Chestnutt her Hospice of Midland nurse.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the First Baptist Church of Midland and/or the J. Evetts Haley Museum and/or Hospice of Midland in memoriam to Janet Pollard.

There will be a visitation Thursday July 23rd at the Nalley-Pickle and Welch Funeral Home at 3800 N. Big Spring Street, Midland, TX 79705 from 6 pm to 8 pm. There will be a private graveside burial for family only Friday morning July 24^th followed by a memorial service open to the public at 11:00 am at the First Baptist Church Chapel at 2104 W. Louisiana Ave., Midland, TX 79701. There will be a reception at the church afterwards.

Arrangements are under the direction of Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home & Crematory of Midland.  Online condolences may be made at www.npwelch.com.

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