Jan Aleene Mitri, age 85, formerly of Coupeville, passed away on Friday, April 21, 2023 at her residence in Mattoon, IL.

An interment service will be at Sunnyside Cemetery Columbarium on Aug. 5 at 11 am.

Jan was born on June 23, 1937 in Georgetown, Kentucky, but spent her childhood in Gauley Bridge, WV, the daughter of Alton Ernest Higginbotham and Lillie Aleene (Biddle) Higginbotham. After living in West Virginia and Illinois, Jan found her happiness on Whidbey Island. She was a social worker and administrator at Whidbey General Hospital where she also founded All the World’s a Stage Educational Theatre and toured productions that highlighted social issues. She was also an actress and director for the Whidbey Playhouse, creating memories that she treasured throughout her life. Jan traveled extensively, including to Egypt, Japan, and Russia, and she loved the theatre, classic movies, and animals. She will be greatly missed.

Survivors include her sons, Paul (Suzanne) Mitri and Christopher (Tara Upton) Hunt; grandchildren, Justin (Katy Roberts) Hunt, Elizabeth (Keith) Robison, Rebecca (Keith) Sutterfield, Jamison Mitri, and Anika Mitri; brother, Rex (Anne Gavey) Higginbotham; great-grandchildren, Henry, Oliver, and Cillian; and beloved pets, Cricket and Mr. Pipp.

Jan was preceded in death by her parents; brother, Don Higginbotham; and granddaughter, Rachel.

Memorial donations in her honor may be given to WAIF, Whidbey Animals’ Improvement Foundation.