Obituary for Dawn Janda

Dawn Janda

December 5, 1971 – January 16, 2023

Dawn Monique Garton Janda, 51, while holding the love of her life’s hand, took her last breath at her earthly home on January 16th, 2023, and was accepted in the Kingdom of Heaven. The family requests that you dress casually, bring all the tissues you have, every memory you’ve got and join us in celebrating her incredible 51 years of life on Saturday, January 21st, 2023, at 12:00 PM at the City Central Summit Room, 400 E Central Ave., Ponca City. All are welcome to come share stories and memories of Dawn. Arrangements are under the direction of Trout Funeral Home & Crematory, 505 W. Grand Ave, Ponca City, OK, 74601.

Dawn was born on December 5th, 1971, to Janelle Moreland and Wayne Garton in Ponca City, Oklahoma. She was the first grandchild on the Mock side and the first granddaughter on the Garton side. You would think she was very spoiled but no, she was very loved. She spent her early years in Ponca City and moved to Mobile, Alabama, where she found her love of the ocean. The family moved back to Ponca City, where she spent the rest of her life. Dawn graduated from Po-Hi in 1990 and got her college degree from Northern Oklahoma College. Dawn married in 1992, and had her first baby girl, Sarah, in 1995, followed by another daughter, Olivia, in 1999, and a son, Trent, in 2008.

Dawn worked for Community Christian Church for close to 20 years, where she furthered developed her love of music and singing by directing the church choir and creating the musical group 4th Power. Afterwards, she joined the staff at Woodlands Christian Church. Dawn continued in her career path by helping others when she joined the amazing team at the Opportunity Center. She followed another one of her passions and created her photography business, Dragonfly Creek Photography, later renamed Dawn Monique Photography. She enjoyed having fun and taking photos of families, seniors, babies, nature, and her kids (who were never serious during the sessions).

Dawn joined the band, Phat Elvis, with her father, Ray Moreland, as the lead singer and tambourine player. Dawn and Ray created the band Ridin’ Fences where she would meet the love of her life, Marvin Janda. Marvin proposed to Dawn on the Spring Solstice at the overlook at Kaw Lake. They married in 2019 on May 10th in a private ceremony. Dawn and Marvin shared a love for music and traveling. They two traveled often across the country, exploring nature together and visiting little hole in the wall bars. They later went on to form their duo band, Backroads, where they performed frequently at local venues all over.

Dawn is survived by: husband, Marvin Janda; daughters, Sarah Jackson, Olivia Williams and her husband, Dylan Williams; son, Trent Jackson; mother and father, Janelle and Ray Moreland; sister, Lori Yuran and her husband, John; nephews, step-children, many aunts, uncles and cousins.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Opportunity Center, Inc., 3007 N. Union Ponca City, Oklahoma, 74601 or Humanity Hospice, 1109 N. Bryant Avenue, #100, Edmond, Oklahoma, 73034.

Source: Trout Funeral Home