Jane Matz

Jane Knight Hendricks Matz, 87, passed peacefully away on June 6th, 2011, surrounded by her loving family who followed a tradition of farewells and childhood storytelling at her bedside.

Jane, a resident of Seahurst and Burien over 60 years, was born and raised in Ohio graduating from Mineral Ridge High School in 1941 and was Gamma Sigma at Youngstown State University followed by Kansas City Flight School. On graduation from flight school she packed up and moved to the west coast to become one of the first U.S. stewardesses.

Jane loved flying and gave up her career only when she met and married the love of her life, pilot, John Patrick Hendricks (Pat). Pat’s family had roots in Burien since the 1930’s and the couple settled in Burien in 1951 when they started their own family.

While maintaining a residence in Burien, Pat’s adventurous flying engagements moved the family around from California to Alaska until his untimely death in an Idaho plane crash in 1960. Jane and her three children continued to travel for some time until landing permanently back in Burien.

Through the travails and dark days of losing Pat and raising her young children alone, Jane maintained an uncommonly strong love people, travel and life. Wherever she landed throughout the world, she made friends.

She then met and married pilot, George E. Matz, and they were happily married sharing their love of flying and traveling to far flung corners of the country. In 1996 George passed on and Jane continued her interest in aviation supporting the Museum of Flight, Aviation High School and the education and growth of her grandchildren.

Jane’s presence was always evident having worked for the Burien Chamber of Commerce, Bells of Burien and most recently, as a volunteer ofDiscover Burien where she was awarded Volunteer of the Year the last several years running. She is recalled by area residents and business owners as a happy-go-lucky, life-loving personality who lived a vibrant and colorful life.

On the west coast, she is survived by her daughter, Kathy Christensen and husband Steve, son Michael Blessworth and wife Nancy, daughter, Kim Hendricks and grandchildren, Nick Christensen and wife Rebecca, Erika, Dane and Brando Christensen, Monet Hendricks and nephews Steve and Cliff Hetherington. In the eastern U.S. she is survived by her sister, Edith Burge and husband Bruce and nieces and nephews including Sandy, Holly, Linda, Julie, Bruce, Nancy, Mark and many in the next generations of Burge Country plus sister-in-law Audrey Knight (beloved Gabe Knight, deceased), niece Gale, nephew Johnny and their next generation.

Jane is also survived by lifelong, uncountable friends who became as family in her heart as she was in theirs.

As Jane sails into her next life, she is thanked for all the contributions and joy she brought to this one. Dancing the skies on laughter-silvered wings she graced our lives. She will be missed.

On Jane’s 88th Birthday, Monday, July 11th, 2011, family and friends are invited to attend a Celebration of Life Party at The Mark Restaurant in Burien from 4pm to 9pm. The family requests that you please bring your stories to celebrate.

In lieu of flowers please contribute to The Jane Hendricks Matz Scholarship Fund through Aviation High School at 615 South 200th Street, Des Moines, WA 98198 (206)-716-0006.

Arrangements under the direction of Greenwood Funeral Home, Renton, WA.

Youngstown Ohio Vindicator Obituary :

SEATTLE – Jane Knight Hendricks Matz, 87, passed peacefully away on June 6, 2011, in Burien, Washington. At her beside, she was surrounded by her loving family who followed a tradition of farewells and childhood storytelling.

Jane, daughter of Harry and Marie Knight, was born in Mineral Ridge on July 11, 1923.

She graduated from Mineral Ridge High School in 1941 and was Gamma Sigma at Youngstown State University. Following University, she worked for orthodontist Dr. Grimmett and during World War II worked in the Lordstown Arsenal. Jane then decided on a career as a stewardess and attended Kansas City Flight School. Upon graduation from flight school, she packed up and moved to the west coast to become one of the first U.S. stewardesses.

Jane loved flying and gave up her career only when she met and married the love of her life, pilot John Patrick Hendricks “Pat.” Though continuing to travel with many visits to The Ridge, the couple settled in Seattle in 1951 when they started their own family.

While maintaining a residence in Seattle, Pat’s adventurous flying engagements moved the family around from California to Alaska until his untimely death in an Idaho plane crash in 1960. Jane and her three children continued to travel for some time until landing permanently back in Seattle.

Through the travails and dark days of losing Pat and raising her young children alone, Jane maintained an uncommonly strong love of life, of people and of travel. Throughout the country and the world, wherever she landed, she made friends.

She then met and married pilot, George E. Matz, and they were happily married sharing their love of flying and traveling to far flung corners of the country, including many visits to The Ridge. In 1996, George passed on and Jane continued her interest in aviation supporting Seattle's Aviation High School and the Museum of Flight and the education and growth of her grandchildren.

Most recently, as a volunteer of the city of Burien, a suburb of Seattle, she was awarded Volunteer of the Year, the last several years running. She is recalled by area residents and business owners as a happy-go-lucky, life-loving personality who enjoyed a vibrant and colorful life.

In Ohio, Jane is survived by her sister, Edith Burge (Bruce) of Southington, and nieces and nephews, including Sandy, Holly, Linda, Julie, Bruce, Nancy, Mark and many in the next generations of Burge Country, plus in Florida, sister-in-law Audrey Knight (beloved brother Gabe Knight, deceased); niece Gale; nephew Johnny; and their next generation.

On the west coast, she is survived by her daughter, Kathy Christensen (Steve), son Michael Blessworth (Nancy), daughter, Kim Hendricks; grandchildren, Nick Christensen (Rebecca), Erika, Dane and Brando Christensen, Monet Hendricks; and nephews Steve and Cliff Hetherington.

Jane is also survived by both new and lifelong, uncountable friends who became as family in her heart as she was in theirs.

“As Jane sails into her next life, she is thanked for all the contributions and joy she brought to this one. Dancing the skies on laughter-silvered wings, she graced our lives. She will be missed.”

To view a Facebook tribute to Jane, search Jane Knight Hendricks Matz.

On Jane’s 88th birthday, Monday, July 11, 2011, family and friends are invited to attend a celebration of life party at The Mark Restaurant in Burien from 4 to 9 p.m. “The family requests that you please bring your stories to celebrate.”

In lieu of flowers, please contribute to The Jane Hendricks Matz Scholarship Fund through Aviation High School, 615 South 200th St., Des Moines, WA 98198 (206)-716-0006.

Highline Times Obituary:

Jane (Knight) Hendricks MATZ

Jane Matz, 87, passed peacefully away on June 6, 2011 in Burien, Washington. She was surrounded by her loving family who followed a tradition of farewells and childhood storytelling at her beside.

Jane, daughter of Harry and Marie Knight, was born in Mineral Ridge, Ohio on July 11, 1923. She graduated from Mineral Ridge HS in 1941 and was Gamma Sigma at Youngstown State University. Following University she worked for an orthodontist, then during WWII worked in the Lordstown Arsenal. Jane then decided on a career as a stewardess, attending Kansas City Flight School. Upon flight school graduation, she packed up and moved to the west coast to become one of the first U.S. stewardesses.

Jane loved flying and gave up her career only when she met and married the love of her life, pilot John Patrick Hendricks (Pat). Though continuing to travel with many visits to The Ridge, the couple settled in Burien in 1951 and started their family.

While maintaining a residence in Burien, Pat’s adventurous flying engagements moved the family around from California to Alaska until his untimely death in an Idaho plane crash in 1960. Jane and her three children continued to travel for some time until landing permanently back in Seattle.

Through the travails and dark days of losing Pat and raising her young children alone, Jane maintained an uncommonly strong love of life, of people and of travel. Throughout the country and the world, wherever she landed, she made friends.

She met and married pilot George E. Matz. They were happily married sharing their love of flying and traveling to far flung corners of the country including many visits to The Ridge. In 1996 George passed on and Jane continued her interest in aviation, supporting Aviation High School, the Museum of Flight and the education and growth of her grandchildren.

Most recently, she was awarded Volunteer of the Year by Discover Burien for the last several years running. She is recalled by area residents and business owners as a happy-go-lucky, life-loving personality who enjoyed a vibrant and colorful life.

In Ohio Jane is survived by her sister Edith Burge (Bruce) of Southington and nieces and nephews Sandy, Holly, Linda, Julie, Bruce, Nancy, Mark and many in the next generations of Burge Country, plus, in Florida, sister-in-law Audrey Knight (beloved brother Gabe Knight, deceased), niece Gale, nephew Johnny and their next generation. On the west coast, she is survived by daughter Kathy Christensen (Steve), son Michael Blessworth (Nancy), daughter Kim Hendricks and grandchildren Nick Christensen (Rebecca), Erika, Dane and Brando Christensen, Monet Hendricks and nephews Steve and Cliff Hetherington.

Jane is also survived by both new and lifelong,

uncountable friends who became as family in her heart as she was in theirs.

As Jane sails into her next life, she is thanked for all the contributions and joy she brought to this one. Dancing the skies on laughter-silvered wings she graced our lives. She will be missed.

On Jane’s 88th Birthday, Monday, July 11, 2011, family and friends are invited to attend a Celebration of Life Party at The Mark Restaurant in Burien from 4pm to 9pm. The family requests you please bring stories to celebrate.

In lieu of flowers please contribute to The Jane Hendricks Matz Scholarship Fund, Aviation High School, 615 South 200th Street, Des Moines, WA 98198, (206)-716-0006.

Fairbanks News Miner:

Jane Knight Hendricks Matz, 87, passed peacefully away on June 6, 2011, in Burien, Wash., surrounded by her loving family at her bedside who followed a tradition of farewells and childhood storytelling.

Jane, a resident of Seattle and Fairbanks more than 60 years, was born and raised in Ohio graduating from Mineral Ridge High School in 1941 and was Gamma Sigma at Youngstown State University followed by Kansas City Flight School. On graduation from flight school, she packed up and moved to the West Coast to become one of the first U.S. stewardesses.

Jane loved flying and gave up her career only when she met and married the love of her life, pilot John Patrick “Pat” Hendricks, originally of Ketchikan. Pat’s flying engagements moved Jane and their family around the far-flung corners of the Lower 48 as well as Alaska. For several years the family was based in Fairbanks, Pat flying for Wein Airlines, the DEW line and running his own charter and hunting service, Trans-Arctic, until his untimely death in an Idaho plane crash in 1960 while fighting forest fires.

Through the travails and dark days of losing Pat and raising her young children alone Jane maintained an uncommonly strong love of life, of people and of travel. Throughout the country and the world, wherever she landed, she made friends.

She then met and married pilot George E. Matz and they were happily married sharing their love of flying and traveling including back to Fairbanks where they purchased property at Chena Marina. George worked on the pipeline, then revived Trans-Arctic Flying Service chartering from Fairbanks to Prudhoe, Point Barrow, Anaktuvuk Pass and other points north. Still later, both worked for Umiat Enterprises, Jane as a air traffic adviser. In 1996 George passed on and Jane, back in Seattle, continued her interest in aviation supporting Seattle’s Aviation High School, the Museum of Flight and the education and growth of her grandchildren.

In recent years Jane worked as a volunteer of Discover Burien and was awarded Volunteer of the Year the last several years running. She is recalled by area residents and business owners as a happy-go-lucky, life-loving personality who enjoyed a vibrant and colorful life.

On the West Coast, she is survived by her daughter Kathy Christensen and husband Steve, son Michael Blessworth and wife Nancy, daughter Kim Hendricks; and grandchildren, Nick Christensen and wife Rebecca, Erika, Dane and Brando Christensen and Monet Hendricks; and nephews Steve and Cliff Hetherington. In the eastern U.S., she is survived by her sister, Edith Burge and husband Bruce and sister-in-law Audrey Knight (Gabe Knight, deceased) and many beloved nieces and nephews.

Jane is also survived by both new and lifelong, uncountable friends who became as family in her heart as she was in theirs.

As Jane sails into her next life, she is thanked for all the contributions and joy she brought to this one. Dancing the skies on laughter-silvered wings she graced our lives. She will be missed.

To view a Facebook tribute to Jane search Jane Knight Hendricks Matz.

On Jane’s 88th birthday, Monday, July 11, 2011, family and friends are invited to attend a celebration of life party at The Mark Restaurant in Burien from 4-9 p.m. The family requests that you please bring your stories to celebrate.

In lieu of flowers please contribute to The Jane Hendricks Matz Scholarship Fund through Aviation High School at 615 S. 200th St., Des Moines, WA 98198 (206)-716-0006.

Please visit http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/newsminer/ to sign the online guest book.