Pamela Francis Jones

Kenmore, Washington

Pam Jones, "Nana," was born in Bloxwich, Walsall, Staffs, England on November 1st, 1930 to Norman and Francis (Bricknell) Gill. Her marriage to Charles Dennis Jones on December 23rd, 1950, commenced a loving marriage that would bring her to Montreal in 1957, and eventually to Bellevue, WA. This journey also, unknowingly, began a narrative of strength and persistence for Pam, who became widowed by Charles' death in 1975. She chose an involvement in the lives of her loved ones and pulled us all into understanding family and the funny and challenging love coupled with keeping it together.

A walk through her house of 22 years in the hillside of Bothell displays a life draped in the love for those around her, a house established and formed for visitors and cups of tea. It displays the life of a woman who knew thoroughly how to work with what she had, fixing and mending, painting cabinets and patch-working carpets, all physical examples of her independence and lovingly eccentric methods of getting jobs done.

She housed an astonishing devotion to her family, one of the greatest joys of her life. Whether that meant attending every basketball, baseball or soccer game, dance recitals, holding her sick grandchildren, yelling and scaring off a bad ex-husband, or simply putting the kettle on, she showed up for all of them.

A painter until her last moments, her artwork is a testament to a life well lived. We can trace her beginning works of snowy landscapes and port towns with sleepy boats to her most recent work, and understand more thoroughly, her physical journey through pain. Her last paintings are vibrant, beautifully messy, and experimental-- working, still, with what she had: a body physically caging her vast and enduring spirit.

Such a spirit will carry on and her absence will certainly still hold a large presence in the lives of her 2 daughters, Vicky K. Hancock (John) (Redmond), and Karen G. Ansdell (Bothell), 5 grandchildren; Kyle Hancock (Erin), Rachel Ringhofer (Chris), Kaleigh, Justin, and Jeremy Ansdell, 3 great-grandchildren, Preston and Madison Hancock, and newly born Kingston Ringhofer, and the countless close friends and acquaintances she brought into her stubborn and loving arms.

The humility and consistency she maintained for everyone for so many years proceeds into her life's closing. Upon one of her last requests, no service will be held. Her wish to recede quietly and dutifully reminds us about the broadness of her love. She chose to leave this world in direct sunlight, ever committed to unburdening by concealing her own and all of our shadows. It leaves us celebrating and cherishing her contagiousness and steadfast resolve, knowing she remains in our hearts and wherever we fashion our homes for the ones we love.