Jean Gleason Witt

1921 - 2016

Jean Gleason Witt

Jean Witt had a self described 'Extraordinary Life'! She was born Dorothy 'Jean' Gleason in Ellensburg, WA March 27, 1921 to Emma (Scholes) and Jay M. Gleason. She grew up in the apple country of the Yakima Valley, WA. Her family moved to Spokane, WA in 1936, where she graduated from Lewis and Clark High School in 1938. Jean attended Washington State College (now WSU), majoring in Botany, where she met her future husband Joseph A. Witt. She graduated in 1943, but World War II interrupted their lives when Joe went to serve in the Army. She served her country as an Army munitions inspector at Mukilteo, WA. Jean and Joe were married in June 1945. They went on to complete their Masters Degrees in Botany at WSC, spending summers working for the U.S. Forest Service as fire lookouts and part of fire suppression crews in Idaho and Montana. They moved to Seattle in 1950 where Joe had opportunities with the University of Washington Arboretum (now the U of W Botanic Gardens), and started their family of three daughters: Emily (Kozie), Nancy (Wunn), and Martha (Sleeper). The family moved to what is now Shoreline, WA where Jean lived for nearly 50 years before "retiring" to Wesley Homes in Des Moines, WA. Joe passed in 1984, but Jean continued on, and expanded her lifelong passion for iris breeding. She was a "backyard hybridizer". Over the years she earned many awards and accolades for her iris. Jean became nationally and internationally renowned for her work, and was always willing to share her knowledge. She was a member of numerous garden clubs and in high demand as a speaker. Jean was an artist, loved to write and was an avid quilt maker. All of her children and grandchildren have beautiful quilts she crafted especially for them. Throughout her long life Jean stayed interested in the natural sciences, philosophy, and current events. She was enormously proud of her grandchildren, and encouraged them to follow their individual passions. They spoke of her as "the most interesting person I know!" Sadly, two of her six grandchildren, Ryan Kozie and Chelsea Wunn predeceased her. Jean passed peacefully at age 95 on August 27, 2016 with her daughters at her side.

She is survived by her daughters and their spouses: Daniel Kozie, Ricard Wunn and Bradley Sleeper, and grandchildren Adam Kozie and Lasara Jarvis; Dianne Sleeper; Jacklyn Sleeper and Mark Van Wormer; and Trevor and Jenny (Lacrosse) Wunn. The service will be private.

Remembrances in her name may be sent to the University of Washington Botanic Gardens.