Jamie Michelle Refenes

Jacquelyn Kim Refenes arrived at Mission Hospital in Asheville, North Carolina on June 9th, 1986, ready for her daughter Jamie Michelle Refenes to be born into the world. However, Jamie had other plans. Jamie was shy and comfortable and decided to take her sweet, sweet time. Then finally, on June 11th while Peter Gabrieal's Sledgehammer was playing on the overhead speakers in the hospital room and Tom Refenes, her father, slept spread out on one of those hospital chairs, Jamie was born into the world! She was a cheery lemon color, a hue that is troublesome but also very beautiful. She was whisked away and put under some bilirubin lights to make sure that the yellow was only temporary. Later, she returned to the room to meet her brother, Tommy Refenes and while he was excited to have a new baby sister, he was more excited about the Optimus Prime toy that was given to him to distract him from no longer being the favorite and only child. Jamie was wrapped in purple pajamas and taken back home to Hendersonville, North Carolina.

Jamie attended school, as most people do. There's nothing special about that. What is special is how she developed her personality during those formative years. It's common to talk about a child being gifted in academics but that wasn't Jamie. Jamie was gifted emotionally. That's not meant to imply "oh bless her! she wasn't bright, but she sure was sweet". No, she did great in school but that wasn't what defined her. Jamie was the Einstein of compassion, the Galileo of empathy, and the Da Vincii of being a friend. Her friends, of which she attracted many, always knew they could turn to Jamie for anything. Jamie would always greet them with a genuine smile and an attentive ear. It didn't matter how Jamie felt or what was going on in her life, she could pull the energy from beyond to be there and be supportive. Even if it was something as simple as giving a smile at the time when she was feeling her worst, Jamie found a way to do it, and it was easy for her because that's who she was.

After graduating high school with honors, Jamie attended The Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science where she earned her bachelor's degree in, you guessed it, Mortuary Science. Jamie always had an interest in the whole spectrum of death. She loved Egyptology, archeology and was fascinated with graveyards so much that she wanted to have her 8th birthday party in one. Her academic and professional side took her through mortuary science and funeral directing, but her adventurous side took her to ghost towns, cemeteries, and haunted houses all around the country. She loved to geocache and spend time in the wilderness hiking, taking pictures, or just taking a weekend to herself in a treehouse in the middle of nowhere.

In 2018 while applying for various jobs in the Seattle area where she could use her degree, Jamie decided on a whim to apply at The Space Needle. She ended up taking that job and it turned out to be one of her best decisions. Not only did she love and excel at her job, but she found her second family at The Space Needle and through their outreach Jamie was able to get involved in various community activities around the Seattle area including Pride and Juneteenth celebrations. Jamie found a place to work that appreciated and mirrored the best parts of her and grew even more compassionate during her time there.

Jamie died peacefully in her bed surrounded by her mom, her dad, her brother, her "brother" dog, Kookie, and her dog Quill, who she loved like a child. Her cat Church came in once or twice but couldn't be bothered to wait for her to pass before she left to sleep elsewhere. Doctors warned that the end of Jamies life could see a change in her disposition and personality where she could become angry and agitated due to the swelling in her brain, but that didn't happen. Jamie was herself until she took her last breath and not even brain tumors could take that from her.

To everyone that had the pleasure of knowing Jamie the world is now noticeably worse, but she wouldn't want us to be sad. If she were here now, she would listen to our pain and tell us everything is going to be ok and even if we didn't believe her, in that moment sitting there with her, everything actually would be.

We love you Jamie.

If sending flowers, or attending, a graveside service will be held in The Meadow Natural Burial Ground at Greenacres Memorial Park, Thursday, October 13 at 2:00pm, 5700 Northwest Drive, Ferndale, WA 98248.

If sending memorial donations, please consider:

Northwest African American Museum: https://www.naamnw.org/donate

PAWS: https://www.paws.org/donate

National Park Foundation: https://www.nationalparks.org/

If doing nothing, that's cool too!