Jean Lindsey Henderson

Jean was born September 7, 1953 in New Orleans, Louisiana, joining her brother Mike, as children of Ed and Doris Henderson. Jean passed away August 12, 2017 at Merry Glen in Spokane at the age of 63 years. She was preceded in death by her parents, Uncle George Atwood and Aunt Kay Atwood. She is survived by her brother Mike, sister-in-law Diana Henderson, nephew Dan Henderson (wife Heidi), great niece Andra Henderson, niece Denise Wilson (Husband Clint), great nieces KayLee Wilson, and Leah Wilson, and great nephew Sam Wilson.

The family moved from New Orleans to Lafayette, CA. While there, meningitis spread among neighborhood children and Jean contracted cerebral meningitis. It hit her hard, but multi year treatment with intensive sensory and physical stimulation helped her fight back. She eventually resumed the ability to walk, but still had very limited communication abilities.

In the midst of this recovery process, the family moved to Spokane. They found a welcoming neighborhood who embraced them and helped the family tremendously with Jean’s ongoing recovery therapies. Her parents also found Merry Glen Home and School, a Parents Cooperative in its infancy. They jumped at this opportunity and were instrumental in Merry Glen’s expansion with construction of a new home in 1972 for up to 19 special needs individuals at N 2917 Cincinnati, Spokane. Merry Glen evolved and became Jean’s primary home in adulthood. She has been surrounded by an extended family of heartfelt friends living there and an exceptionally loving and caring staff over the years. It is no overstatement to say that the family feels so blessed by the awesome staff and their personal connection and caring for Jean, and making her life truly enjoyable.

Jean enjoyed being with her friends, good meals, searching for and chewing gum, listening to music, watching movies, playing with toys, going on activities to ARC, Daybridge, and swimming at YWCA. All of these and other activities were possible due to years of dedicated and loving staff at Merry Glen and these wonderful places. We are also thankful for medical staff and Hospice of Spokane, who are also very loving, and enabled Jean to stay home during her fight with pancreatic cancer.

We are celebrating Jean’s life at Merry Glen, at 11:00 on Saturday, August 26. If you wish, memorials may be made to Merry Glen, which is a 501 (c) 3 non profit organization, N. 2917 Cincinnati, Spokane, Washington 99207.

Arrangements under the direction of Hazen & Jaeger Funeral Home, Spokane, WA.