Obituary: Cunningham, Jeffrey H.

CUNNINGHAM, Jeffrey H.

Jeff Cunningham passed away peacefully with his family and his beloved dog by his side on March 19th, 2016 at the Spokane Hospice House.

His death was caused by respiratory complications from a severe bout of pneumonia.

Jeff waited for the Zags to beat Utah and his brother Dan to fly in from Washington, DC before leaving this world.

He was born in Spokane on December 20th, 1951.

He attended St. Augustine and St. Joseph’s grade schools, and graduated from Gonzaga Preparatory High School and Gonzaga University with a bachelor degree in communications.

After college, Jeff began work in the food service business, establishing and managing some of the first Wendy’s restaurants in Spokane.

Following his time at Wendy’s, he became an invested partner and manager of the Red Lion BBQ and Pub.

After a lengthy time managing the Red Lion, he was called to take over the running of the family business, Westview Nursing Home.

There, he provided health care for veterans up to the day the home closed and the property was donated to Habitat for Humanity.

Jeff spent the last years of his life next door to the former nursing home grounds, where he served as the unofficial community support coordinator, offering his home to many needing a hot meal or a night’s rest.

He strongly believed in the importance of being kind and taking care of others.

He loved his family and siblings, dogs (especially his schnauzer dog, Larry), music (blues and rock and roll), humor (the driest), sports (Zag’s Basketball), gardening, the Rolling Stones, and especially his two sons.

His yard was finely manicured with numerous plants, flowers, and interesting and unique lawn/garden ornaments.

He had a passion for old clocks; his house contained dozens of various clocks all set to the exact time.

Jeff will be truly missed by his family, friends, and all those whose lives he touched.

In his final days, he spoke about how lucky he was to have the best family in the world.

He is preceded in death by his parents Claude and Janice Cunningham.

Jeff is survived by his former wife Joanne Browne-Cunningham of Spokane; his sons Zackrey Cunningham of Seattle, WA and Andrew Cunningham of Phoenix, AZ; his sisters Diane Boughton of Camarillo, CA and Beverly Austin of Spokane, WA; and his brother Dan Cunningham of Springfield, VA.
Funeral Mass will be Saturday, April 9, 2016 at 2pm and will be celebrated at the Gonzaga Preparatory High School Chapel, 1224 E. Euclid, Spokane, with a reception to follow.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Spokane Hospice House or Gonzaga Prep.

Arrangements have been entrusted to: