Janice Cooper Yancey passed away at the age of 88 on Thursday, April 16, 2026, after a brief illness. Janice was of the Baptist faith. She was born in Ingleside, KY, a small community in Ballard County. After her family bought a farm and moved to McCracken County, she attended and graduated from Lone Oak High School. After high school, Janice began working as a manicurist at the barber shop located in the Irvin Cobb Hotel. She then worked as a manicurist at Conway’s Barber Shop for several years.
Janice married Edward A. Box in 1959. They had two children, Edward K. Box and Vicki L. Box (now Vicki Miller). After her marriage, she worked at Eddie’s Lunch which was located on the south side of Paducah, across from the old Farley Elementary School. She worked there until 1968, when they closed the restaurant and opened a grocery named Box Food Mart. It was located on the corner of 6th and Clay Street, on the north side of Paducah. She worked at the grocery until it closed in 1977 and then returned to work as a manicurist at Conway’s Barber Shop.
In 1986, Janice married Billy Earl Yancey. While married to Billy, she had some of the most wonderful times of her life. She was also an avid Kentucky Wildcats fan. She and Vicki often traveled to see the Wildcats play basketball, both before and after Billy’s death. She never lost her love for the Wildcats, and she had UK blue flags waving from her front porch and from the windows of her car.
After Billy’s death in 1988, Janice began working at Olivet 4 Kids pre-school and daycare program, where she loved to take care of children, and especially the babies. She worked there until the Covid-19 pandemic of 2020 caused her retirement.
Janice is survived by her daughter, Vicki Miller of Paducah, KY, and her son Eddie (Camilla) Box, also of Paducah, KY, along with several nieces and nephews.
Janice was preceded in death by her first husband, Edward A. Box; her second husband, Billy E. Yancey; father, Charles Roy Cooper; mother, Sarah Dallice Cooper; sister, Norma Lou Gill; and brothers, Jimmie F. Cooper and Charles A. “Buddy” Cooper.
There will be no visitation, but family and friends are welcome to attend graveside services beginning at 11:00 am on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, at Oscar Cemetery in Oscar, Kentucky with Rev. Todd Hawkins officiating.
You may leave a message of sympathy or light a memorial candle at www.hughesfuneral.com.
Hughes Funeral Home in Paducah is in charge of arrangements.
