JANE MARY STEPHENS PEASE

Jane Pease passed away peacefully September 13, 2016 at her home on Vashon Island with her family by her side. She was born in Seattle June 17, 1938 to the late Edwin J. Stephens and Mary Kathryn Smith Stephens. Jane graduated from Holy Names Academy, Seattle in 1956 and studied at Seattle University.

The beach and the mountains were central themes throughout Jane's life.

At age four Jane commenced learning to ski at Stevens Pass. Jane rapidly acquired a proficiency that enabled her to represent Holy Names Academy in ski races in Washington and at Red Mountain, B.C. During the winter of 1959-1960 Jane and her friend Isa Giese, also of Seattle, competed in Europe as representatives of the United States Ski Association, USSA.

In April 1961 Jane married Frederic Pease of Tacoma, Washington. They began their married life and initiated their family in Seattle, living in Wedgewood while daughter Mary, son Geoffrey and daughter Sarah were born and then moving to Laurelhurst where daughter Elizabeth, son James and daughter Emily joined the family.

The Pease family spent summers on the water, renting summer homes on Camano Island, Whidbey Island, Gig Harbor and Hood Canal prior to moving to Vashon Island in 1976. Winter weekends and holidays were spent mostly in the mountains at Stevens Pass, Crystal Mountain and McCall, Idaho as Jane and Fred taught all of their children to ski in their preschool years. Skiing became their principal family winter activity.

When daughter Emily was 18 months old, Jane enrolled her in the Down's Syndrome Preschool at the Experimental Education Unit of the University of Washington. Jane's advocacy of special education led to Emily's continuing in special classes in Seattle schools at Fairmount Park, Green Lake, Meany Middle School and her eventual graduation from Chief Sealth High School in West Seattle.

Jane was also a strong supporter of Special Olympics, making sure that Emily participated in Bowling and Track and Field events. At age 16, Emily was invited to join a Special Olympics ski team. Jane insisted and thus began an annual family pilgrimage to the State Winter Games at Mission Ridge that lasted for 25 seasons.

Upon moving to Vashon, Jane and Fred joined both the Vashon Golf and Country Club and the Quartermaster Yacht Club. They both participated in sailboat races in the local and greater Puget Sound area. Jane was active as social chairman of the yacht club, planning activities and dances for the yacht club and some joint events with the country club.

In the late 1970s, Jane established Island Watersports, a small Connelly Dealership at her home on Quartermaster harbor, selling waterskis and windsurf boards. The family learned to windsurf and taught others. Many of Jane's customers became close personal friends.

Jane began her twenty year career at the K2 corporation on Vashon Island in the early 1980s. She initially ran the company store and later joined the Silk Screening Department. A favorite activity of Jane's was hosting an annual luncheon and afternoon at the beach for her coworkers.

Jane was widely known as a wonderful cook and hostess that opened her doors and her arms to a widespread group of neighbors, friends, and "new best friends" that she always found it easy to meet. Her annual Christmas parties were legendary with beautiful décor, excellent food and music provided by many of the island's favorite musicians.

As Jane's illness progressed and she could no longer entertain in the way she had always enjoyed, she and Fred became devotees of the island music community. Island musicians welcomed Jane and Fred's interest and enabled them to continue the music themed social life they so enjoyed. Jane loved meeting and interacting with new people to the very end.

Jane is survived by her husband Fred, her daughter Mary Johnson and grandchildren Nicholas Pease and Jessica Johnson of Vashon; son Geof (Sue) Pease and granddaughter Paulina of Maui, Hawaii: daughter Sarah (Evan) Pruett of Vashon: daughter Elizabeth (Joe) Bruscato of Normandy Park; son James Pease and grandsons Quinn and Finnegan of Whidbey Island and Vashon; and daughter Emily Pease of Vashon and beloved dogs and grand-dogs: Gracie, Baby Larue, Snuggles, Jingle, Laura Apple, Cassie, Annie, Dani and Bella.

Jane is also survived by her sister Clare (John) van Amerongen of Vashon; brothers Greg (Patty) Stephens of Silverdale; Eddie (Margaret) Stephens of Seattle, and Tom (Gretchen) Stephens of Seattle as well as numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.

A funeral Mass was held Friday, September 16 at St. John Vianney Catholic Church. A reception followed at the Pease Family home.

The family would like to extend their most sincere thanks and appreciation to the Vashon caregiver community for the loving care provided to Jane by Aimee Biro, Sissel Johannessen, Chris Jovanovich, Bonny Kelly, Jan Shanklin and most especially Genni Pearl McCoury who seemingly has adopted Jane and her whole family into The Cherokee Nation.