Arlowyn Jean Kraft

Arlowyn Jean was born on May 10, 1923 to Rex and Grace Raynes in Andover, South Dakota. The second of four children, she grew up in a loving family in a closely knit community. Sisters Marlys and Bess, baby brother John, cousins Harry, Al and Ruth, along with best friend Gertie were constant companions. At an early age she couldn't pronounce her first name so she came to be known simply as Jean.

Childhood in a small rural town was not dull! Among the events that formed lasting impressions on Jean were the total loss of the family home to fire when she was seven, contracting scarlet fever and being quarantined for weeks in her family's one bedroom apartment, and watching a devastating tornado strike her town. Oh yes, and then there was the Depression. During those days hunting was an essential way to keep meat on the family table. Pheasant was common fare, chicken was a luxury!

Jean loved learning. She participated in spelling bees, qualifying for the South Dakota State championship, and she was valedictorian of her class of 18 students. She was able to attend South Dakota Northern State Teachers College for two years. At that time she had only one skirt, one blouse, and one pair of shoes. She dearly wanted to take tap dancing lessons, so the one pair of shoes had taps on them. She learned how to walk without making too much noise! After college she taught 3rd grade in Groton, South Dakota. With one of her first pay checks she bought her beloved mother a new dress. During World War II she and her family relocated to Seattle. There she sang and played piano for the USO while working for Boeing with sister Bess, inspecting airplane parts.

Jean met Howard Kraft at Seattle First Methodist Church where they sang in choir together. They were married in June, 1949. Faith and church remained focal points for the family their entire life. In the early 1950's they built a house on Mercer Island and together raised four daughters: Shirley, Marlene, Linda and Anita. Jean was a loving, devoted mother, spending countless hours helping her girls with music, art and swimming lessons, Girl Scout activities, sewing and cooking projects, and whatever else came up. She instilled her love of learning and appreciation for music in her girls. She also managed to go back to work as a teacher's aide in the Mercer Island School District and then as a secretary in Nursing Services at the UW University Hospital.

Retirement provided Jean with new opportunities. She and Howard moved to Port Orchard to a beautiful spot called Colby overlooking Puget Sound with a spectacular view of Mount Rainier and the Cascades. They took numerous bus tour trips around the western US and Canada, Alaskan cruises and trips to England. For their 50th wedding anniversary they took the entire family to Disneyland. After Howard passed away in 2004 Jean moved to Cristwood Park in Shoreline where she could be closer to family. She continued to enjoy trips and outings with her daughters, Scrabble games, crossword and sudoku puzzles while living at Cristwood until her death at the age of 93 on July 31, 2016.

Jean is survived by her brother John (Alice), daughters Shirley Shakarian (Roupen), Marlene Weaver (Jim), Linda Williams (Jeff), Anita Alger (Mike); grandchildren Ben, Kelsey, Mikaela, CJ, Katrina, great grandchild Hudson Howard and numerous beloved nieces, nephews and their families.