Obituary: Barach, Jan (Moss, Mckeever)
Age 79
Jan was born on February 13, 1934 to Arnold and Marjorie Moss of Spokane, Wash. After graduating from Lewis and Clark High School in Spokane, she attended the University of California at Santa Barbara and Washington State University earning a degree in Education.
She taught English in the North Thurston and Clover Park School districts, and later earned a Master’s degree in Guidance Counseling from Pacific Lutheran University, and a Doctorate degree in Educational Leadership from Seattle University.
Jan married Barry McKeever of Olympia, Washington in 1958.
They had two children, Mark McKeever and Kitty (McKeever) Gibbs.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her son Mark, and former husbands Barry McKeever and Steve Barach.
Jan is survived by her loving daughter Kitty (Jerry) Gibbs (Gig Harbor); brother Fred (Elaine) Moss (Bellingham); step-mother Marianne Moss (Spokane), and extended Moss and McKeever families.
In honor and memory of her beloved son, Mark, Jan devoted her life to helping at-risk youth, and served on the Washington State Governor’s Council for Drug Addiction and Prevention.
She was a member of Kappa Alpha Theta Sorority, St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Lakewood, Washington, and several alumni and scholastic associations.
Jan had a deep and abiding love for God.
She found joy in her family and friends, the arts and literature, reading and writing, attending Seattle Opera and 5th Avenue Theater, movies, travel, animals, and spending time at her family summer home on Priest Lake in Northern Idaho.
Jan will be remembered and greatly missed for her kind and gentle spirit, her generosity, and for the many children she taught, counseled, and administered to throughout her blessed career and life.
A private family inurnment service will be held at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church (Lakewood, WA.).
Memorial gifts may be made in her name to St. Mary’s Episcopal Church and Franciscan Hospice.
Give rest, O Christ, to thy servant with thy saints, where sorrow and pain are no more, neither sighing, but life everlasting.