Janet Ulrich

Janet Marie (Burns) Ulrich, age 83, of Abilene, Texas, passed away peacefully on January 10, 2026.

Janet was born in Paris, Texas, to J.L. "Spec" Burns and Marie Burns. When Janet was 12 years old, her father passed away. Her mother later married Melvin Layne, who lovingly raised Janet as his own child and remained a devoted presence in her life.

She graduated from Permian High School in Odessa, Texas, in 1960. Janet later moved to Abilene, where she spent more than 20 years working in the insurance business and built many meaningful relationships along the way.

In 1973, Janet married Kerry Linley. Their marriage was cut short when Kerry passed away in 1998 after a courageous battle with lung cancer. In 2001, Janet married Wayne Ulrich, and the couple made their home in San Angelo, Texas.

Janet was deeply involved in her faith and church communities throughout her life. She was an active member of the Episcopal Church of the Heavenly Rest in Abilene and Emmanuel Episcopal Church in San Angelo. Her faith guided her lifelong commitment to service. Janet was a proud member of the Red Hat Society and devoted countless hours volunteering at Thrift House in Abilene. She was also a Shriners wife for more than 40 years with both of her husbands and was actively involved in Shriners philanthropic events and charitable work. She loved giving back to her communities and was always willing to help those in need.

She was preceded in death by her husbands, Kerry Linley and Wayne Ulrich; her daughters, Jamie Marshall and Rene Linley; her sister, Joann Adcock; her parents, Marie Burns Layne and Melvin Layne; and her father, J.L. "Spec" Burns.

She is survived by her sons, Michael Linley of Abilene and Jim Marshall and his wife Jodee Marshall of Arizona; her granddaughters, McKenzie Richmond of Abilene and her husband, Nicholas Richmond, and their children, and Lauren Bunger of Arizona and her husband, Dustin Bunger, and their children; and her grandson, Dalton Marshall of Arizona.

Family visitation and funeral services will be held at Elmwood Funeral Home on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, at 11:00 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorials be made in Janet's honor to the Alzheimer's Association or the Wounded Warrior Project.