Janis Marie Jamerson

Janis “Jan” Marie Jamerson was born on Aug. 2, 1954, in Seattle, Washington, and was adopted a month later by Rowland (Sy) and Helen Sylvester (both deceased) of Chehalis, Washington. Her parents were longtime owners of Bartel’s Men’s Store in Chehalis and imparted in her a lifetime commitment to community involvement and service. She attended St. Joseph’s Catholic School and W.F. West High School in Chehalis. She also graduated from Centralia College with an AA degree and was a cheerleader. After graduation, she moved to Portland, Oregon, where she worked for Safeway for a time. She eventually returned to Chehalis to care for her parents.

Jan was a member of the Centralia and Chehalis Eagles Aerie for most of her life. She worked as a shift supervisor at Rite Aid in Centralia and Chehalis for many years, retiring in 2017. She will be remembered by her friends and customers fondly for her cheery and positive conversations while working there. Jan volunteered at the Lewis County Historical Museum for many years, keeping the research library up to date, volunteering countless hours at events and awarded Volunteer of the Year in 2018. She also volunteered at God’s Closet thrift store for two years.

Jan met the love of her life, John Jamerson, in 2009, and they were married on July 24, 2010, first living in Chehalis, later in Napavine, and then moving to a peaceful green wooded property in Onalaska in 2020. She loved her animals deeply, especially her latest dog Mack, a full-bred Labrador retriever. Jan had a passion for genealogy, spending countless hours researching family history. She was a loving soul and good friend to all, and an amazing wife. Jan knew everyone and treated everyone equally, a rare combination. She enjoyed gardening, canning the fruits of her garden and raising flowers.

Jan was diagnosed with lung cancer and fought until the end. She died at home on Wednesday, May 14, with Mack and John by her side in a peaceful setting.

She is survived by her husband, John Jamerson; her brother and his wife, John and Christine Sylvester; her nieces, Cara Jacobson and Erin Sylvester; Cara’s husband, Patrick, and their two children, Libby and Jake; her half-sisters, Diane Milligan and Sheila Johnson; and many loving in-laws, including Marv and Ruth Jamerson.

Jan's life will be celebrated together at Sticklin Funeral Chapel on Friday June 6, 2025 at Noon. Cake and coffee will be provided.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that remembrances be made to the American Cancer Society.