Janet Tryon

Published 1:22 pm Friday, August 25, 2023

Janet Tryon, a beloved resident of Pensacola, Florida for many years, passed away on August 18, 2023, at the age of 72. She departed this world surrounded by her loving family, who cherished her deeply.

Janet Tryon

Janet’s life was marked by her love and compassion. She possessed a heart that radiated kindness and a spirit that touched the lives of many, both human and furry. Her dedication to the welfare of others was not only a passion but a calling. She spent countless hours volunteering with her children’s extracurricular activities then later at the Pensacola Humane Society and the Pensacola Beach Yacht Club, her favorites including “Barktoberfest”, and the Preemie Cup Regatta, which benefits Ascension Sacred Heart’s Studer Family Children’s Hospital. She also dedicated many hours to bringing her wider community together for fun, including organizing social events, belonging to a mystic society along with other social organizations, and being a founding member of the Harlequin Club of Andalusia, Alabama. Her impact on both two and four-legged friends will forever be remembered.

In addition to her commitment to others, Janet was a dedicated scholar. She graduated from Andalusia High School, where her thirst for knowledge began. She continued her learning at Troy University and earned both Masters and Specialist degrees in Elementary and Early Childhood Education from Auburn University at Montgomery. She taught kindergarten and other lower elementary grades until moving into elementary administration, both in Alabama and Florida, until her retirement. She could only play so much bridge after that, so she began her retirement gig with the Small Business Administration, traveling to emergency declared areas to help small businesses get back on their feet. She did not let a free day in these new places go by without visiting a museum or cultural site to learn more about the people and area. One of her favorite phrases was “You learn something new every day,” and she lived by it wholeheartedly.

Janet is survived by her two children and their families, daughter, Holly Tunnell Alves, her husband, Shawn, and their sons, Joseph and Will of Daphne, Alabama; and her son, Trey Tunnell, his wife, Ginny, and their daughters, Lily and Emmie, of Roswell, Georgia, all of whom she adored beyond measure; as well as brother-in-law, Robert Maxfield, of Abingdon Beach, Maryland; and nephew, Michael Maxfield, of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Lowell Excell Huggins and Truman and Johnnie Lou Holladay Southwell, as well as her sister, Rebecca Huggins Maxfield.  We are confident Mom was met by an entire pack of dogs at The Rainbow Bridge, and it was a party. Hope she brought enough treats. Who are we kidding, of course she did.

A memorial service to celebrate Janet’s life will be held on Monday, August 28, 2023, at 11 a.m. at St. Francis of Assisi Episcopal Church, 1 St. Francis Drive, in Gulf Breeze, Florida, with a visitation beginning at 10 a.m., and a reception after. Interment will be held later on Saturday, October 28, 2023, at Magnolia Cemetery in Andalusia with a reception following at the Andalusia Country Club. We invite all friends and acquaintances to join us in commemorating the life of a remarkable woman who made the world a better place for animals and humans alike.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be made to the Pensacola Humane Society (pensacolahumane.org) in Janet’s memory. By contributing to this cause that was so dear to her heart, we can continue her mission of providing care and shelter to animals in need.

Janet Tryon’s light may have dimmed on this earth, but her love and legacy will continue to shine brightly in the lives of all she touched. May the peace of God that passes all understanding be with her and with you always.

Expressions of condolences for the family may be made at www.hughesfh.com. Hughes Funeral Home, Daphne, AL, is assisting the family.