Jean Romona Richards

Jean was born and raised in the Seattle area where she attended grade school, junior high, and graduated from Roosevelt High in 1940. From her early years, up until her passing at age 91, she was always active in her community, from tending victory gardens during WWII, student government in high school, reunion events with Roosevelt Golden Grads, to recent years volunteering at the Edmonds Center for the Arts, Edmonds Floretum Club, and Edmonds Museum Guild. Over the years, she ran a small grocery store, pursued a successful career as a free-lance paralegal at major law firms in Seattle, and was instrumental in the Seattle Fire Departments Medic 2 program. She was an extremely social individual, and loved being involved with people and organizations. She was the quintessential hostess and entertainer from family gatherings to professional occasions. She discovered the joy of travelling in later years and enjoyed trips to Australia, Japan, Mexico, Hawaii, and Caribbean to name a few. She especially enjoyed her African Safari. The 70s found her working at Childrens Orthopedic Hospital in the hospice program, as well as the Oncology Department at NW Hospital. Her heart belonged to many things, one of which was her beloved community of Edmonds, enjoying all it had to offer from ferries to trains to views of the Olympics and Mt Baker from her balcony, to walking the town and enjoying the sights and sounds of the beach and water front. Nothing escaped her appreciation when it came to the outdoors, be it trees, flowers, rainbows, hummingbirds, sunrises, and sunsets. Many of these things were enjoyed at another of her hearts passions at her summer home at Lake Cavanaugh. She enjoyed more than 53 years there from camp fires to waterskiing and boating, chain-sawing downed trees, to watching shooting starsshe loved it all. She was a woman who was never afraid to try something new and could fit in to any situation, be it ballet performances or dinner with the governor, to cooking on a wood burning stove at the cabin. However, without question, what held the most important part of her heart was her family. They were her priority for 68 years from school functions, family vacations, Cub Scouts/Girl Scouts, weddings, babysitting grand and great-grandchildren to making sure holidays and other special events were made memorable. She always gave selflessly of herself to her family, going the extra mile to please and help them. For these and too many other reasons to mention, her family is eternally grateful and thankful. They are truly the lucky ones to have been able to call her Mom, Grandma, and Great Grandma. Her presence will be greatly missed more than words can express. She is survived by son Gary Richards (Candace), daughter Randee Richards, grandchildren Kira Richards and Ian Richards, and great-grandson Damon Richards-Mose. A gathering of Jeans friends will be held at the Edmonds Center for the Performing Arts later this spring or summer, time and date to be determined. Remembrances can be made to the Edmonds Center for the Performing Arts or Seattle Medic One or Medic Two Foundations. A Mothers Farewell to Her Children When I must leave you for a little while, Please do not grieve and shed wild tears And hug your sorrow to you through the years, But start out bravely with a gallant smile; And for my sake and in my name Live on and do all things the same, Feed not your loneliness on empty days, But fill each waking hour in useful ways, Reach out your hand in comfort and in cheer And I in turn will comfort you and hold you near; And never, never be afraid to die, For I am waiting for you in the sky! by Helen Steiner Rice ****** God looked around His garden and found an empty space. He then looked down upon the earth and saw her tired face. He put His arms around her and lifted her to rest. Gods garden must be beautiful He always takes the best. He knew she would never get well on this earth again. He saw the road was getting rough, the hills were hard to climb. So he closed her weary eyelids and whispered Peace by thine ****** To Those I Love And Those Who Love Me When Im gone, release me, let me go. I have so many things to see and do. You mustnt tie yourself to me with tears; be thankful for our beautiful years. I gave you my love, you can only guess how much you gave to me in happiness. I thank you for the love you each have shown, but now its time I traveled on alone. So grieve awhile for me, if grieve you must, then let your grief be comforted by trust. Its only for a time that we must part. So bless me within your heart. I wont be far away, for life goes on; so if you need me, call and I will come. Though you cant see or touch me, Ill be near and if you listen with your heart, Youll hear all my love around you, soft and clear. And then, when you must come this way alone, Ill greet you with open arms and Welcome home Announcement: Rembrances can be made to the Edmonds Center for the Performing Arts or Seattle Medic One or Medic Two Foundations.