On Nov. 6, 2009, our beloved mother and grandmother, Lea Jean Thomas, went peacefully into God’s loving arms. “Jean” was born in Brainerd, Minn., on April 25, 1923 to Arle and Tena Hartman. As a young child she and her family came west and settled in the Portland, Ore., area. In 1940, Jean met a dashing young man by the name of Allen Edward Thomas and they soon married, moved to the Everett area and raised two daughters, Jeannette and Alice.
Jean’s husband of 29 years passed away in 1969; after several years of contentment with her loving family, Jean found love again with her longtime companion Westley Butterfield. Jean and Wes enjoyed 25 long years together traveling the countryside and taking in car shows. In fact, she could often be seen “bombing” around town in her pristine, red ‘67 Bonneville. She liked more than a few antique shops and an occasional road rally. Jean was a lover of arts and crafts; she could be found making lovely Christmas ornaments for her friends and family as Christmas was one of her favorite holidays. She was also a lover of the outdoors and rarely passed up an opportunity to go fishing and camping with her family.
No matter the challenge, physically or emotionally, Jean was a fighter and known for her “fiesty” nature. Jean is survived by her two daughters, Jan Kammenga of Oak Harbor, and Alice and husband Gary Sorensen of Stanwood; sister Sarah Nathan; nephews Joseph and Jimmy Camilla of Lake Oswego, Ore., and Gail Parker of Seattle. Jean had eight grandchildren, Rebecca and husband Richard Ryan of Anacortes, Shawn Sorensen of Marysville, Allen “Ted” and wife Sheri Moran of Fall City, Andy and wife Jobina of Sedro-Woolley, Kyle Sorensen of Marysville, Jason and wife Traci Moran of Mount Vernon, Jeremy and wife Stacie Moran of Oak Harbor and James and wife Bambi Moran of Oak Harbor.
Jean also has 11 great-grandchildren, Brandon and wife Alaina Owen of Syracuse, N.Y., Nicholas Owen of Sammamish, Megan Lea Jean Owen of Bozeman, Mont., Jason Wright Moran of Tucson, Ariz., Keria Sorensen of Marysville, Devon Sorensen of Stanwood, Jonathan and sister Emily Moran of Sedro-Woolley, Ryan and Nathan Moran of Oak Harbor, Zachary Moran of Fally City, and one more on the way … baby girl Moran due in March.
Jean was preceded in death by her parents, husband “Ted,” companion Wesley, brother Lenard, sister Alice, niece Francis and nephew Wayne.
A memorial service and reception will be held at Mukilteo Presbyterian Church, 4514 84th St. SW, Mukilteo, on Wednesday, Nov. 18 at 11:30 a.m., graveside service to follow at 2 p.m., Cypress Lawn Cemetery, Sunrise Garden. Please join us in celebrating a life well lived.
Memorial contributions can be made in Jean’s name to: Mukilteo Food Bank (address same as the church above), or NOAH Animal Shelter of Washington at www.thenorahcenter.org. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Solie Funeral Home of Everett.
