Jean St. John

Jean M. St. John – wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother passed on Wednesday, September 25, 2024, in Cashmere. Jean was a long-time resident of East Wenatchee. Jean was born in Colville, Washington, on January 9, 1931. She was the youngest of 5 children. She attended school there until 9th grade; when the family moved to Spokane in 1945. She graduated from Rogers High School in 1945. While at Roger’s she was active in the drill team and was in a modern dance group. She attended Eastern Washington State College. Her dream was to become a kindergarten teacher. She had majors in Art, Music, and Home Economics. While at EWSC, she was a majorette for the band, and sang in the college choir. She had a beautiful soprano voice! It was at Eastern that she met her husband, Robert St. John. They were married over the spring vacation of 1951. They lived in a trailer in the married student’s quarters called “Trailer-Ville.” She had many fond memories of her college days! After Robert’s graduation from college, they moved to Richland, where he taught 5th grade. They were there for 2 years. Their daughter, Christine, was born in Richland in 1953. They then moved back to Colville, where Robert taught school and coached sports. Jean was a busy, active, stay-at-home mother. In 1954, their second daughter, Connie, was born in Chewelah. Then came their son, Steve, in 1960. The family moved to Kirkland in 1961, where Robert taught at Kirkland Junior High School, was a counselor, and coached. The family was active in the Methodist church. Jean and Robert taught Sunday School classes in Kirkland and East Wenatchee. Their last move was to East Wenatchee in the mid-60’s. After her children were older, Jean worked at Orchard and Sterling Junior High Schools. At Sterling, she was a para-educator in the library. She loved working with the staff and students at both schools! Jean was the Hostess with the Mostest…hosting many holiday get-togethers for the family – with “all of the fixings.” Jean loved to bake pies, cakes, cookies, and brownies. She would send a variety of her special treats home with family members when they would come up to visit. When we were in our formative years, Jean was a stay-at-home Mom-then and always there when you would need her. Jean was an exceptional housekeeper! She liked to iron, wash dishes by hand, and keep a very clean house! She taught all 3 of her children manners and was a positive role model for them. Jean was an avid gardener. She cherished her rosebushes. She and Robert spent many hours planting and tending to the flower beds and huge flowerpots surrounding our home. They both loved flowers! Jean was a very kind, loving, respectful, caring compassionate, dedicated, creative, cheerful, responsible, patient, dependable, fun-loving, cheerful, Christian wife, Mother, Grandmother, and Great-Grandmother who was always there for her family, neighbors and friends. “But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” Jean possessed these qualities each day. She had a strong faith in the Lord. Jean is survived by her children, Christine Hainline of Spokane, Constance St. John of East Wenatchee, and Steve St. John, and wife Hilda, of Yakima, her 4 grand-daughters Kelly, Casey, Madeline, and Meghan, and her 5 great-granddaughters-Bethany, Charlette, Katheryn, Violet, Adelyn. A family graveside service was held on Friday, October 4, at 11:00 a.m. at Evergreen Memorial Park Cemetery. Chaplin Jamie Wilhite will officiate the ceremony. Arrangements are in the care of Heritage Memorial Chapel, East Wenatchee.

Jean St. John

January 9, 1931 - September 25, 2024