White Funeral Home
400 First Street West
Independence, Iowa 50644

Independence – Janet Thalia McCauley, 81 years old, of Independence, Iowa, died on Monday, June 27, 2016, at the ABCM Rehab Independence – West Campus in Independence. She was born on April 10, 1935, in Richland Center, Wisconsin, the daughter of Lester Merle and Inga Cecilia (Peterson) Cooper. She graduated from high school in Richland Center and then earned a B.S. degree at the University of Wisconsin – La Crosse. On August 19, 1960, she and Newell Leroy McCauley were married in Richland Center. He preceded her in death in 2012. They moved to Independence in 1962. Mrs. McCauley taught for over 30 years in the area. She taught for two years in the Jesup Community School System and began teaching in the Independence Community School System in 1966 until retiring in 1995. After retirement, she spent a lot of her free time volunteering. She volunteered with Cedar Valley Hospice, Meals on Wheels, and with the Hospital Auxiliary.

Mrs. McCauley is survived by two daughters, Kelly (Bill) Stenzhorn of Wichita, Kansas, and Lisa (Claudia Salazar) McCauley of McKinney, Texas, two sons, Ron McCauley of Clarinda, Iowa, and Mark Scharff of St. Louis, Missouri. She is also survived by three grandchildren and one brother, Wayne (Jean) Cooper of Lolo, Montana.

She was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers, Robert and Carlyle (Patricia) Cooper; and two sisters, Marjorie (John) Herring and Inez Irene (Don) Wilson.

Memorial Services will be held at 10 a.m.on Wednesday, July 6, 2016, at the White Funeral Home in Independence with Randy Richter officiating.  Her cremated remains will be placed in the CremationGarden at Mt. Hope Cemetery in Independence.  Friends may call for visitation from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. on Tuesday, July 5^th, at the White Funeral Home.  On line condolences may be left at www.White-MtHope.com.