Loretta Jane "Janie" Russell

Loretta Jane “Janie” Russell, 79, of Sherman, Texas, passed away peacefully on Sunday, July 12, 2026.

Janie was born on October 4, 1946, in Gainesville, Texas, to Walter Monroe “Dink” Wyatt and Aline “Tootsie” (Gibson) Wyatt. She graduated from Gainesville High School with the Class of 1964 and went on to build a life centered around hard work, family, and friendships.

For more than 25 years, Janie was a dedicated employee of Bomber Bait before spending the next 10 years as a personal babysitter, where she lovingly cared for children as if they were her own. She had a servant’s heart and found great fulfillment in caring for others.

Janie enjoyed an active social life and treasured the friendships she made throughout the years. She loved playing cards with the ladies at First United Methodist Church and at the community center, especially with her dear friend, Sammie Ballard. She was a familiar face at local senior dances, enjoyed collecting a variety of treasured keepsakes, and found her greatest happiness in preparing delicious meals for her family and friends. Her kitchen was a place of warmth, laughter, and love, where everyone was always welcome.

Those left to cherish her memory include her daughter, Tammy Colwell and husband, Brad, of Sadler; her sister, Ardena Chokas and husband, Terry, of Olney, Texas; her brother, Ray Wyatt of Gainesville; her beloved granddaughter, Haley Colwell of Sadler; her grandson, Brody Colwell of Sadler; her niece, Julie Nelson and husband, Bobby; and her nephews, Caleb Nelson and Joshua Nelson, along with numerous extended family members and many dear friends.

Janie was preceded in death by her parents, Walter and Aline (Gibson) Wyatt, and her brother, Danny Wyatt.

Funeral services honoring Janie will be held at 2:00 PM on Wednesday, July 15, 2026 at Turrentine Jackson Morrow Funeral Home in Whitesboro.  A time of visitation for family and friends will be held one hour prior to the service on Wednesday at the funeral home.

Janie will be remembered for her kind heart, generous spirit, unwavering love for her family, and the joy she brought to everyone fortunate enough to know her. Her legacy of friendship, hospitality, and compassion will continue to live on in the hearts of those she leaves behind.