Jean Ekenstedt Spirk

1919 - 2014

Jean (Thompson) Ekenstedt Spirk

Born to George Edwin and Bertha Flora Thompson December 16, 1919 and passed to her next life January 3, 2014 at age 94. She lost her brother, Edwin, over the Pacific in WWII. In 2009, she was widowed from the love of her life, husband W. Scott Spirk. Beloved mother of Leslie Hughes and mother-in-law of Steve, adoring grandmother of Garth Balthazor, and proud great-grandmother of Hunter, Elijah and Simon Balthazor. Her grandsons remember her as being the most positive person they have known.

A life-long Seattleite, Jean graduated from Montlake grade school, Garfield High and attended the University of Washington where she was affiliated with Alpha Chi Omega sorority. She maintained dear friendships with sorority sisters until the end of her life. After retiring from Boeing as a well respected administrative secretary for 15 years, she enjoyed many years of yachting in the beautiful waters of Washington and Canada. She was an ex-Tarette of Queen City Yacht Club, served on the board of the Friends of the Library (always an avid reader) and was an active member in the Richard Fuller Guild of the Seattle Art Museum.

Jean was an amazing lady to the end of her life. She had a great sense of style: outfits always coordinated and, as her dear love Scotty would say, she always looked "just marvelous". Whether out on the town, at the beach, on the boat, or even at times on the ski slopes, she dressed to impress. Her quick wit, sense of humor and infectious zest for life endeared her to a huge variety of diverse friends. She cherished her small family and deeply treasured her many friendships, always appreciating anyone who touched her life in large and small ways. Jean believed in keeping angels close. Some of those were her precious AccentCare caregivers who were with her most of the last year of her life.

As Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote of a life lived successfully, she laughed often and loved much; she won the respect of intelligent persons and affection of children; she appreciated beauty and found the best in others; she gave of herself and left the world a better place.

According to her wishes, we will spread together Jean's and Scotty's ashes in Saratoga Passage in front of our Camano Island home, which Jean loved to visit.

All of us who loved and were inspired by Jean would have wished her to live forever, but we will have to be content carrying on her positive and loving spirit by living our lives as well as we are able.

There will be no services at her request. Any donations in her name should be made to the non-profit safety training organization for commercial fishermen at NPFVOA Vessel Safety Program, 1900 West Emerson Street #101, Seattle, WA 98119.