Jeanette Lois Friis

Jeanette was born in Chehalis, WA on November 19, 1935, to Esther and Leonard Johnson. She was raised in Rochester, WA and was the 2nd oldest of four children.

Jeanette went to the University of Washington where she received a BA in Home Economics prior to teaching at numerous schools in the Olympia area.

Jeanette met her future husband, Roy, in the 7th grade when he was throwing cherry pits at her and a friend at an orchard in Grand Mound, WA. That began a love affair that would last for the next 67 years and was a model for anyone who knew them.

Jeanette’s unwavering faith in God carried over into everything that she did, and she was the embodiment of Colossians 3:23; “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord…” She combined her gift of service with a wonderful sense of humor and sharp wit that were a joy to all who knew her. A consummate mother and homemaker, Jeanette greatly enjoyed quilting with ladies from her church and passing on her faith and knowledge of cooking and sewing to her children and grandchildren.

Jeanette also had a love for nature and enjoyed camping, hiking and wood cutting on their tree farm with her family. She also enjoyed her annual razor clam harvests where she would dig razor clams with her extended family and friends at Pacific Beach, WA.

Jeanette and Roy also traveled extensively, and were able to combine their love of travel with other hobbies to include attending Antique Truck shows, picking up new school busses for the local school districts and attending the Annual Department of Natural Resources Retirees reunion.

Jeanette is survived in death by her loving husband of 57 years, Roy E. Friis, by her daughter Lorraine and her husband Todd Eckstein, by her son Carl and his wife Stephanie, by her son Glen and by her “adopted” son Jack Noble. She is also survived by seven grandchildren; Kimberly Keeling, Erin Eckstein, Dylan Eckstein, Brenna Eckstein, Dana Eckstein, Tyler Friis and Lauren Friis. She is also survived by her three brothers, Robert Johnson, David Johnson and Larry Johnson.

A celebration of Jeanette’s life will be held on Sunday, June 5, 2016, at 3:00 PM at The Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, 1601 North Street SE, Olympia, WA 98501.

Arrangements under the direction of Mills & Mills Funeral Home and Memorial Park, Tumwater, WA.