J. Jeanne (Hamilton) Straub
Marrowstone Island, Wash.
April 3, 1927 – Aug. 30, 2016
J. Jeanne (Hamilton) Straub passed away Aug. 30, 2016.
Jeanne was born in Brownsville, Tex. on April 3, 1927 to Howard and Agatha Hamilton. Her birth certificate lists her name as Jimmie Jeanne (good Texas name), but she was known as J.J., Slim Jim, James, Jimmie-Jeanne the Rodeo Queen but those that loved her called her Jeanne, mom, Grandma, Nana or Tutu.
She grew up in different cities within Texas, however she always called Matador, Tex. “home.” She graduated from Matador High School in 1945 and moved to the Seattle, Wash. area to attend the University of Washington. She met her future husband, Dean Straub, while on a blind, double date with his best friend. Somewhere during the date the two couples realized they needed to swap dates and oddly enough within a year, both couples were married. Jeanne and Dean moved to West Seattle to start their family.
She worked for a variety of businesses in the Pacific Northwest. Her favorite job though was as the owner of “The Thicket,” a nursery, greenhouse, florist, landscape and gift store, located in Bellevue, Wash. Her passion was flowers, gardens, travel, art, multiple family cats, and her family.
Jeanne and Dean moved from West Seattle to Bellevue in 1958 where she joined several garden clubs, a local Elks club and was a Girl Scout and Camp Fire Girl leader for many years. She was a certified International Floral Judge and loved traveling around the globe. Regardless of where she went, she was always able to find gardens to walk through and new plants to discover.
After retirement from the Boeing Company in 1987, Dean and Jeanne moved to Marrowstone Island, Wash. and relished in “island life.” She cultivated many different plants and trees within her garden and shared her blooms with friends and family. Jeanne loved learning new, creative skills. She took art lessons, pottery classes, weaving lessons and even purchased two different looms to make items for the family. She consistently gave her time and assistance to the United Methodist Church of Port Hadlock and was a past president of and an active member in the Marrowstone Garden Club.
Jeanne is survived by her three daughters and their spouses; Christine (John) Richard of Bothell, Wash., Mary (Mark) Straub-Walden of Richland, Wash., and Kathleen (Patrick) Straub-Jones of Gig Harbor, Wash. She leaves behind 13 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Dean Straub; her daughter Bernadean Straub of Kent, Wash.; parents Howard and Agatha Hamilton; and brother Robert Hamilton.
Her family greatly appreciates all the care and comfort provided by the staff at Aegis of Lynnwood, Providence Hospice of Snohomish County, and the nursing staff at Swedish Hospital of Edmonds. Jeanne was loved by so many family members and friends. She will be missed greatly but we know she is in heaven with Dean, probably arranging flowers!
In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests that donations be made to Providence Hospice of Snohomish, Alzheimer’s Association, a local chapter of The Humane Society or a charity of your choice.
Jeanne was laid to rest at Tahoma National Cemetery alongside her beloved husband on Sept. 9, 2016. A celebration of life will be held at a later date. Please contact one of her daughters for more information.
