Jan was born in Seattle on April 7, 1921, the youngest of three children born to Bill and Lettie Byars. She passed peacefully with her daughter Susy by her side on August 22, 2012 at age 91. Before settling on Vashon in 1962, she led quite a life. Her older sister, Billee, had 8 children and Jan helped raise them. She was the first woman from Santa Ana, CA to join the Women's Army Auxilliary Corps (WAAC) and then was stationed in Japan after WWII. Upon returning to the states, Jan moved in with her sister to once again help with all the children. Wanderlust called and she travelled to Alaska, where she met her husband, Bud, a civil engineer with the Army Corps of Engineers. Both outdoors people, Bud and Jan enjoyed fishing, hunting, flying and getting together with friends. They were married in 1957, and Susy arrived in 1958, in Anchorage. Bud passed away in 1960 and Jan returned to Seattle. An opportunity arose on Vashon to take care of Bud's father and this is where she decided to live. Jan was very active in the community, hosting bridge clubs, Orthopedic Guild holiday house, becoming a Camp Fire leader, Weight Watchers lecturer, and joined Eastern Star, Beta Sigma Phi sorority, the Fraternal Order of Eagles and the Red Hat Society. Jan volunteered at Granny's Attic for many years. She is probably best known as the "Lego Lady", hosting a public display of her Lego collection each December for quite a few years. Jan loved to travel and once spent 6 weeks with her sister chasing Haley's Comet in the South Pacific, visiting various countries. Her trips with her sister were frequent and worldwide, but her favorite trips were visiting Legoland in Billund, Denmark, and the opening day of Legoland California, both with Susy. There were also many Disneyland trips for various family functions. Jan was very crafty and won blue ribbons at the Puyallup Fair for her knitting and needlework. Jan is survived by her daughter Susy (Mike Hoover) of Vashon, her brother Don Byars of Los Angeles and many nieces/nephews, grand nieces/nephews and great nieces/nephews as well as many "adopted" children and grandchildren. Please join family and friends on Saturday, September 8th at 1:00 pm at Island Funeral Home for a celebration of Jan's wonderful life! Yes, there will be chocolate.

Please visit our online guest book at www.islandfuneral.com