Obituary: Holmes, Jan
Age 66
Since her father was in the Army she loved to say, “I was a six dollar baby.”
Her youth was spent on military bases including Japan and Germany and eventually returned stateside where her father retired in Washington State.
In the early sixties, the family moved to Missoula, Montana and she attended high school there where she met the love of her life “in late December 1963” and married Dave in June of 1964.
Her love for him was wholehearted and since she had moved so much in a military family she thought she could put down “roots” with this Montana boy but that was not going to be.
After a couple years, they moved to Seattle, Bellevue, Tri-Cities, Vancouver/Portland, Hawaii, and Nampa, Idaho before finally settling in Spokane in 1979.
Dave and Jan owned and operated DJ’s Sound City music stores in Spokane malls from 1980 until 1996.
Music was always the underlying theme of their life together either working in the stores or listening to Dave play, attending concerts, dancing, or simply enjoying it with their many friends.
She had many favorite artists that included Elvis who she got to meet during the filming of the “Aloha from Hawaii” TV Special in 1973.
Many of the special memories of Jan will be of the times spent at Lake Mary Ronan with friends and families relaxing, fishing, and enjoying the treats she would prepare.
The many trips to visit and play with family in Montana were a special part of her life.
Also there were the cruises to the Caribbean that were some of the best times of her life as well as a trip to Memphis to visit Graceland in 2006.
Cooking was a passion and important to Jan and she had a knack of bringing out the best in any recipe she came across and everyone appreciated that talent whether it was a special occasion or simple daily fare.
The holidays were valuable to her and she had great dishes and decorations for all of them, particularly Christmas.
Jan “Nana” was a woman who cared unconditionally for her family and was extremely proud of each and every accomplishment achieved by the children and grandchildren.
Her love for the grandkids was immense and brought tremendous joy into her life.
She was a good listener and had a way of making you feel like you were the only one in the room when you visited.
She had a wonderful, distinctive laugh that was contagious and would just make you feel happy to be with her.
The story of Jan’s life would not be complete without mentioning her favorite companion of 16 years, a cocker spaniel named Rusty Rascal who she would always describe as “just a kid in a dog suit and I can’t find the zipper.”
Jan was quietly wise, genuinely happy, sentimentally sweet, loving, and once you got to know her you would love her too which was proven many times by the caring responses of those who cared for her during her unfortunate illness.
She touched many lives by “just being Jan.” After a determined fight, she passed peacefully on December 13, 2012, one week after her 66th birthday.
Jan “Nana” will be deeply missed by her husband of 48 years, Dave Holmes, of Spokane Valley, a son Steve, daughters Joelle Lynn Chester (Brian), Michelle Lani Scanlon, grandchildren Jessica Lyn, Kiendra Ashley, Benjamin David, Brady Patrick, and Emily Grace.
She is also survived by her sister Kristine Turner of Kirkland, Washington as well as many nieces and nephews and extended family throughout the U.S. and Canada.
There will be a memorial service on Friday, December 28, 2012 at 1:00 P.M. at Thornhill Valley Chapel, 1400 S. Pines Road in Spokane Valley.
In lieu of flowers, please remember Jan with a donation to a charity of your choice.