Obituary: Sherar, Jean Maxine
Age 99
Jean was born in Yakima, Washington on March 29, 1915 to Laura and Harry Smith.
Jean witnessed several changes in her lifetime.
She often reflected on the good times she had growing up in Yakima with her brother Don and sister Margaret.
Though much older, Don would take her on great adventures.
She loved to tell stories of skiing on the wooden skis that her father had made for her, they would hike up the mountain and then come straight back down as they had no edges.
She talked of time spent on an uncle’s sheep ranch outside of Ellensburg, the train rides to and from Seattle, where she attended the University of Washington.
During the depression she, Don and Margaret ran a boarding house on Lake Union.
Jean received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Social Work from the U of W and completed her education with an internship with the State of Washington Welfare Department in Dayton, WA.
Jean married Orlan K. Sherar in June of 1943.
Orlan (“OK’) was in the Coast Guard when they met and later served as a Captain with the Spokane Police Department.
Jean continued to work for the Welfare Department for several more years.
Many of the adoption protocols she helped to write are still in use today.
Together Orlan and Jean raised four daughters, Orlean (deceased in 1979), Nancy Berg (David) of Bellingham, Laura Sherar (Dick Swails) of Lake Oswego, OR, and Bonnie Sherar in Spokane.
The girls often tell their friends that they do not remember there ever being a cross word between Jean and Orlan.
When asked about their ability to get along so well Jean would respond: ‘you have to decide what is really important and be willing to compromise.’
After the birth of Laura (1955) and Bonnie (1956), Jean worked for the Inland Empire Chapter of the American Red Cross.
She was the Director of Service to Military Families during the era when troops were returning from Vietnam.
She continued to work at the American Red Cross until June 1977.
During that time she served as a board member to the National Association of Social Workers.
Following her retirement she continued to help out with Red Cross/FEMA relief efforts on natural disasters.
In the spring of 1967 Jean and Orlan joined Don and his wife Petey on a trip to Tahiti, and so began her traveling adventures.
Jean kept daily journals even when on vacation.
Jean traveled to every continent except Antarctica.
Jean traveled well and traveled light.
She was able to head out on a three week trip with only a carry-on bag.
After Orlan’s death in 1985 she joined a few tour groups, found some great friends who also traveled well.
For the last 22 years her constant travel companion was her daughter Bonnie.
They had several great adventures though most of northern Europe and western Canada.
Jean credited her longevity to a 5 o’clock ritual of ‘McNaughton’s and 7.’
For the past 23 years she was a regular at the Monday-Wednesday-Friday deep water aerobics class at Whitworth University.
When she gave up driving the other class members made a pact that if she could get Bonnie to bring her to the class, someone from the class would make certain she got home safely.
Jean also served several terms on the Board of the Spokane Enological Society.
From this group she further broadened her circle of friends.
For the past 60+ years there has been an annual Christmas party at Jean’s house, though the crowd has lessened over the years, it has been an annual tradition for many.
Jean was the matriarch of the Smith/Sherar family.
She is survived by daughters, Nancy, Laura and Bonnie; grandchildren: Doug Cooper (Cathy), Ava Berg and Kelly Berg; great-grandchildren: Sarah and Maggie Cooper.
Jean did not like funerals, but loved a good party.
There will be a Celebration of her life on Friday, October 3, 2014 at 3pm at the Mukogawa Ft. Wright Commons, 4000 W. Randolph Road, Spokane, WA.
The family requests that in lieu of flowers a donation be made to the charity of your choice.