Jean Dee DeVault

Auburn-haired Jean Dee (Frazier) DeVault was born in Jamestown, North Dakota to Edith and John Frazier on March 25, 1925. She was a responsible girl – so much so, that according to her younger brother [John] Paul, when sent on an errand to the store with the instructions “to not stop and mess around, to go directly to the store and back,” when her brother was hit by a car while crossing the street, Jean completed the shopping task and toted home the groceries sans the little brother. When asked by her Auntie Mary about Paul’s whereabouts, Jean replied, “He’s going to be fine, he’s on his way to the hospital!”

The family moved to Aberdeen, WA for a short while before settling in northeast Portland, Oregon where Jean attended Rose City Park Elementary and graduated from Grant High School, class of ’43.

Jean met her husband-to-be when her Aunt Mary brought him home for dinner. Her Aunt who volunteered at the USO Club, regularly invited military personnel for dinner in their home or transported them about town. She saw a pair of uniformed men waiting at a bus stop and while driving them to the Portland Army Air base, she invited them to Sunday supper. Roy, an Army Air Corpsman immediately was taken by the genuineness of the family, their laughter and most certainly enjoyed Jean’s company. They were married June 9, 1946, Jean worked briefly in the Kaiser Shipyards as a riveter while they lived temporarily in Vanport before moving to their first home in Parkrose on Freemont Court.

Jean and Roy welcomed their first child, Nancy in 1948 and purchased property and house plans with the intention to build their home themselves. David was born in 1953 completing the family and they moved to their home on Eugene Court three years later.

Jean was an attentive wife, devoted mother, the consummate homemaker - well-known for her cooking, delectable potato salad and beautiful pies. She found deep satisfaction in caring for her children, assisting her Mother and Great Aunt, helping her neighbors and working in her yard. Jean was an avid and powerful bowler, and once her children were raised, she and a friend had a part-time painting and wallpapering business.

Jean was exceptionally wicked at playing Scrabble and doing crossword puzzles; she was as artistic as she was articulate. She had a great sense of humor and could be an imp at times – when a neighbor asked her to shorten his slacks, she made the requested repair and then basted the back pockets and the ankles closed; when the unsuspecting man attempted to don his trousers he could not get his foot through the bottom, nearly falling on the floor trying to force his foot through the leg of his trousers. Of course, once he figured that out, he had a great laugh and was tricked again when he attempted to put his wallet in his back pocket and discovered it closed as well!

At the time of her passing, Jean resided at Summerplace Assisted Living in northeast Portland, OR.

Jean is survived by her loving children, Nancy and her husband Terry Pettit of Vancouver, Washington, her son David DeVault and his wife Karen of Nehalem, Oregon, three grandchildren, Becky Pettit Renfro and her husband Christopher of Vancouver, WA, Chad DeVault of Beaverton, OR, and Amy DeVault Smith and her husband Bryan of Carbondale, CO, seven great grandchildren, Nick and Jake Renfro, Trevor, Cody and Kyialynn DeVault, and Milo and Mina Smith.

Besides her parents, Jean was predeceased by her husband Roy DeVault and her brother John Paul Frazier.

At her request, there will be no memorial service, “please remember me as you knew me.” In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations may be made in Jean’s memory to the Alzheimer’s Association of Portland, Oregon or to the Children’s Cancer Society of Oregon.

Private inurnment at Rose City Cemetery, Portland, Oregon.