Janis M. Bealer of Bethlehem died peacefully in her home on June 28, 2017. She was the wife of the late Dr. John D. Bealer for 70 years until his death on June 1, 2017.

She was born in Kutztown on November 12, 1926, daughter of the late William R. and Lilly (Price) Fryer. While attending Kutztown schools, in 8^th grade she received the Good Citizenship Award from the American Legion.   She attended Moore College of Art in Philadelphia where she majored in fashion and costume design and also worked as a model for John Wanamaker & Co. and Strawbridge & Clothier.

She also lived in New York, Pittsburgh, Hawaii, Decatur, IL and San Francisco before moving to Bethlehem in 1964. During her years in Decatur she was active in Girl Scout work and the local medical Auxiliary. In San Francisco she studied oil painting with well-known artist Jerry Jolley and her work was voted Best-In-Show at the prestigious annual Marin Art & Garden Center exhibition. After moving to Bethlehem, she joined the Palette Club and Lehigh Art Alliance where she served on the Boards of both organizations. She also had one-woman shows at The City Hall Rotunda and the Gallery at Kemerer Museum.

She also volunteered at Kemerer Museum as a docent and was in charge of the Christmas decorating committee for 30 years. In 1972 she joined the Kemerer Museum Board of Directors where she served for many years and was President of the Board during the museum’s acquisition of the adjacent property and subsequent remodeling and expansion and during the formation of the Historic Bethlehem Partnership.

In 2005, she received the YWCA’s Golden Laurel Woman of the Year Award in recognition of her volunteer work for Kemerer, Historic Bethlehem Partners and in the community.

She was also a deacon of First Presbyterian Church and a member of the Northampton County Medical Society Auxiliary.

Survivors: Janis is survived by her 9 years older brother, William L. Fryer, and his family and her daughter, Barbara Bealer and her husband, David Greene, of Bloomington, Indiana and Cape Porpoise, Maine.

Services: There will be a joint memorial service for Janis and John on Sunday, October 1, 2017 at 2 PM followed by a Celebration of Life at First Presbyterian Church, 2344 Center Street, Bethlehem, PA 18017. Funeral arrangements are by John F. Herron Funeral Home and Herron Crematory in Bethlehem, PA.

Contributions: In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Kemerer Museum – Historic Bethlehem Partners or St. Luke’s Hospice – Bethlehem.