Jeanne Jones Holder

Jeanne was a person who loved staying active. On an unusually sunny Redmond, WA December day, she was out for a walk when she fell and hit her head. This injury contributed to her passing on January 21st. Though she may have been tempted to enter heaven sooner, she stayed with us until she turned 95-just in time to celebrate as a National Champion alongside her beloved Ohio State Buckeyes.

Being a Buckeye was a non-negotiable for Jeanne. She was born on January 16, 1930, in Columbus, Ohio, to sports-loving parents, Pleasant Alleyne Higgs Jones and Ira Stanton Jones. If you knew Jeanne for more than ten minutes, you knew that Ohio State football and its marching band were among her greatest joys. While she loved the competition, music, and team spirit, the Buckeye pomp and circumstance were more than just entertainment-they transported her thoughts back home to where her heart longed to be: the Grandview neighborhood.

Jeanne grew up during the Depression. As with most of her friends, there were many stories of struggle and hardship. Yet, she loved her childhood. She and her friends played classic games like kick the can throughout the neighborhood. Her mother made sure that they had all they needed and, despite tough times, she wanted her children to have the exposure to lessons such as piano, swimming, and dance-thanks to her hard work, bartering and friendships. This strong sense of community made Jeanne feel rich in childhood.

Her mother and sister, Joyce Alibrando, fostered a love of books, words, and puns, which Jeanne grew to appreciate as she got older. Meanwhile, her father and brother, Stanton Jones, were known for their humor and fun-loving spirit. All four preceded her in death, but their impact on Jeanne's life was lasting.

Jeanne's roots extended beyond family to lifelong friendships. She cherished her high school and college friends, especially Diana Arthur, B.J. Howell, Jackie Cherry, Diana Kukor, and Nadys Lewis. Together, they wrote:

"Jeanne Jones (later Holder) must have been one of the most popular girls to ever go through Grandview Heights High School. Not only was she a cheerleader and on the Homecoming Queen's court and in the musical Varsity Chorus, she was active in everything! She was so friendly, with a sweet smile for everyone. She was always a good person and a lifelong friend to several of us. No matter how many miles separated us, our friendships never ended. Jeanne expressed the best spirit of Grandview Heights!"

Jeanne valued education and hard work. She attended The Ohio State University and became a teacher in San Diego, where she met her husband, Bob Holder. They pursued their master's degrees together at the University of Idaho. It was there they met friends who turned into family before moving to Spokane to raise their own family. Later, they enjoyed their retirement near their grandchildren, living on Vashon Island, in Bellevue, WA, and at Emerald Heights in Redmond, WA. Jeanne treasured the friendships she made in each of these places.

She was grateful for the opportunity to travel and see the world, with Italy and Wales holding special places in her heart. But perhaps the calm blues and greens of Vashon Island was the favorite place of rest for Jeanne. While visiting her there, "Come look, a ship is going by," or "The mountain is out," were the most common phrases she would shout out and will probably ring on in her families ears.

Jeanne loved being a member of Pi Beta Phi, First Presbyterian Church (and later Bellevue Presbyterian Church) Spokane's Hamblin Park Garden Club, and a plethora of other work and volunteer organizations. However, her greatest passions and legacies were genealogy, quilting, and her family.

Jeanne started finding her roots and connected with people through Eastern WA Genealogy Society. She dove in deep, loving the collaboration with people, but mostly the thrill of the hunt and the mystery. She often credited a childhood story about her relation to Clara Barton, founder of the Red Cross, as the spark that fueled her curiosity.

Quilting revealed an unexpected artistic bent. It was also another avenue through which Jeanne connected with people. One of her favorite quilts was created while floating down the Seine River with fellow enthusiasts after visiting Monet's Gardens in Giverny, France. She considered her quilts to be old friends and loved seeing them in the homes of her family members.

Lastly, Jeanne's thoughts mostly settled down and rested on her Children and Grandchildren:

• Mike & Lisa with their family: Emily, Jessica & Baxter, and Eric & Julia

• Bill with his family: Meg, Betsy, and A.J.

• Ann & Dave with their family: Zachary & Jacqueline, and Charlie & Camila

From Bob's side and countless numbers of exchange students, a special thanks to Kevin Heise, Helmut Winter, and Roger Tyzzer for keeping in touch with Jeanne over the years. All of life has many hills and valleys. For Jeanne some of her greatest sadnesses came in the death of two babies lost to miscarriages and the death of her infant daughter, Suzanne Katherine Holder.

A memorial service for Jeanne will be held at Emerald Heights Retirement Home on February 8th at 3:30 PM.

We loved how Jeanne stepped in with generosity when people needed help. If you would like to honor Jeanne's memory in a donation, the following where high on her list:

• Emerald Heights Benevolence Fund

• American Cancer Society

• Medic One of Redmond

• The American Red Cross (a tribute to her roots)