Janet Sue Reed Huntley

After years of battling various health complications and ultimately cancer, Janet Sue Reed Huntley passed away peacefully with family by her side, on July 26th, 2024, in Olympia, Washington.

Janet was born in Portland, Oregon, the youngest of three children on August 20,1945 to Don and Gerri Reed. She was the apple of her parents eye throughout their life.Like her father, her motto in life was, “a stranger is just a friend I haven’t met.” This sentiment took root as soon as she learned to talk. On bus rides in Portland, 3-year-old Janet Sue happily laid bare all the goings-on of her family to passengers to the mortification of her two older brothers. This lifelong trait of being an open book embarrassed a few, but much more often endeared her to many.

“Janet Soup-Soup” as she was affectionately named by her brothers, not only freely opened her heart to people but adored, cared for and cuddled all her cats, dogs, and other pets. This love for animals continued throughout her life as she cared deeply about animal conservation and preservation. During her last few weeks of life, Janet continually found delight when backyard squirrel friends happily ate food from her hand. 

In 1948, her family moved to her mother’s hometown of Wenatchee, Washington. Wenatchee was a place Janet felt nurtured and loved, surrounded by her large extended family. She spent summers playing with her cousins at her favorite place on earth, the family cabin on Lake Wenatchee. 

Janet’s family made their final move to Spokane in 1956. She attended Lewis and Clark High School where she was part of the renowned Ti-Girls marching team. Following her graduation in 1963, she attended Washington State University. Janet was a devoted member of the Chi Omega sorority and graduated with a BA in Elementary Education in 1967. Her die-hard love of her Cougs was later patiently accepted by her husband, Ray, a UW alumnus. 

Janet’s years as a Kindergarten teacher started in Gresham, Oregon, but it was in the North Thurston School District in Olympia, Washington where she truly flourished as a teacher. She loved her students and her job. She was known to visit students in their homes before the school year started, hoping to make newly arrived immigrant students and their families feel welcome and loved. After teaching for 40 years, Janet would still run into her Kindergarten students, who thanked her for being a life-changing teacher who nurtured them at the beginning of their education journey. 

Janet married the love of her life, Ray Huntley on August 19, 1979 in Olympia. Their love of The Beatles, their pets, trips to Long Beach and Lake Wenatchee and most especially, their two children, Jean and Alex brought them much joy and happiness. Since she always wanted to parent an even larger brood, she nurtured 100s of her students, her nieces and nephews, financially supported and mentored a young man in South Africa and stayed in regular communication with her former Japanese exchange student, Taka.

Janet was the definition of inclusive. She extended a hand of friendship, a listening ear or a warm hug to anyone who needed it. She cherished all of her family members, no matter how extended, unconditionally. Her love of family social gatherings was dampened in her last 8 years because of symptoms of Meniere’s Disease. Despite this setback, she regularly called and checked in with her many nieces and nephews, and cousins.

In Janet’s last 10 years, her greatest joy was becoming a grandmother or “Amma” to hergranddaughters, Natalie and Violet. Along with her husband Ray, they relished attending all their various activities. She never failed to share her disappointment at not having a head full of gray hair to show off being a grandma. 

Janet was a long-time member and an elder at the United Churches of Olympia where she sang in the choir. She lived her life as a true follower of Jesus Christ putting charity and love for others above all else.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Geraldine and Donald Reed.

She is survived by her devoted husband, Raymond Huntley who lovingly cared for her in her final two years, daughter Jean Huntley Kieft, son-in-law, Zach Kieft, granddaughters Natalie and Violet Kieft, son, Alexander Huntley and his fiancé, Erika Santiago, and her brothers, Roger and Sam Reed.