Jean Louise Combelic

After a very short illness Jean Louise Culp Combelic died peacefully in her Longmont home, surrounded by family. Jean was born in 1925 in Omak, Washington to Earl and Mina Culp. When Jean was five years old, her family lost the house that Earl had built in town and moved across the river to the Colville Indian Reservation. In 1946, Jean married Donn Combelic of Wenatchee and together they moved to Washington, D.C., where Jean worked as an apprentice fashion buyer at Woodward & Lothrop. Years in Boston, Los Angeles, and New Jersey followed, during which four children were born. Then in 1962, Donn's work as a computer programmer in the telecommunications industry took him to Paris, France where the family lived for seven years. Jean learned French, collected antiques, and took up painting. In 1969, Jean and her children moved to Longmont, where her love of fashion led her to open a vintage clothing and antiques store at 712 Main Street. Though Forevermore closed in 1985, customers still remember it for its spectacular window displays and its annual fancy dress parties.Jean loved Longmont, which welcomed her with open arms. She was active in the Democratic Party, First Congregational Church, the Downtown Development Authority, and most recently the Longmont Council for the Arts. Jean's generosity of spirit touched many over the decades, especially younger people who were inspired by her creativity, courage, and joie de vivre. In later years as her health declined she maintained her high spirits and sense of humor. Her last weeks were filled with laughter. Preceding her in death were her parents, her four siblings, her husband Donn and their son David. Surviving are her son Jeff of Gold Hill and her daughters Jane Ellen and Debra of Longmont, three grandchildren Riley, Sophie, and Sebastian, friend Judy Butenas of Longmont, as well as many nieces and nephews. The family wishes to express its gratitude to cousins Jackie Baker and N lle Manderville, of Yakima, Washington, as well as Family Hospice of Boulder, for their compassion and cheerful presence in Jean's final weeks,and also to Jean's numerous friends..A grave-side service will be held at Lyons Cemetery (located at the north end of 3rd Avenue in Lyons, Colorado) on Friday, January 28 at 1:00 p.m. followed by a reception at Jean's house at 3:00 p.m. The family suggests donations to the O.U.R. Center 303 Atwood St, Longmont, CO 80501or the Longmont Council for the Arts, 356 Main Street, Longmont, Co 80501.