Jeanne Moriarty Watchie Jacobsen

Jeanne’s gift to us all began on March 12, 1929. The second of the three children by Thelma Thurman and Judge Charles P. Moriarty, Jeanne spent the majority of her life on the Seattle hills of Queen Anne and Magnolia.

An alumnus of Forest Ridge Academy, she made life-long friends. She attended the University of Washington and was a member of the Delta Gamma sorority. Throughout her life she participated in many charities including St. Teresa Guild.

She met and married the first love of her life, John Watchie, in 1953 and together created a busy and bustling household of five boisterous children.

In her mid-40s, Jeanne launched a career in real estate and specialized in selling historic Queen Anne hill mansions, raising her five kids as a single and determined mom with tennis as her favorite outlet.

1977 brought her joy when she married Arthur Jacobsen, her second love, who adored her and brought all much joy, political debates, Yeats, and jazz and classical music. Her circle of love expanded to include his sons, their wives, and their progeny.

Jeanne was a true and rich lover of words, a published poet, and a walking thesaurus. Real estate ads read like poignant postcards; dinner discussions involved defining arcane adjectives. Christmas and birthdays brought treasured poems from her pen.

Jeanne connected with people no matter the age, political or sports affiliation. Her jokes could and often did make you blush! A lover of chance, she never shied away from a game of gin rummy or a slot machine, which ended usually in her winning big.

She embraced you with all consuming attention and no one else existed for her when you were in her presence. She was your stalwart supporter - no matter what. Jeanne made you feel special, unique, and so unconditionally loved.

Her essence continues through all whom deeply feel her absence; her children: Shaun (Tim) Perry, Susan Watchie Olden, Sandy (Vinnie) Stamato, Julie Watchie, Christian Watchie (Dave Bahr), Peter (Debbie) Jacobsen, Arthur (Bonnie) Jacobsen; her grandchildren: Kristen (Greg) Johnson, Megan (Tom) Coate, Betsy and Matthew Perry, Jeffery Jacobsen, Margaret (Adam) Dunn, Collin Olden, Jessica, Samantha, and Dakota Watchie, and Devin Bahr; her great-grandchildren, Jake and Drew Johnson, Soren, Reece, Alissa Coate, and Grayson Dunn, godchildren, nieces, nephews, and countless others fortunate to meet her.

Jeanne is preceded in death by first and second husbands, John A. Watchie and Arthur Jacobsen, her son, John Watchie, and daughter in law, Linda Jacobsen, and brothers Charles and Timothy Moriarty.

Funeral Mass at Saint James Cathedral, 804 9th Avenue Seattle 98104, 10 a.m., Saturday, February 3, 2018. Reception to follow.

Jeanne received stellar care from the Terraces at Skyline staff for whom the family is forever grateful.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to Sight Connection http://www.sightconnection.org/support-our-work/donate/ or the Cancer Care Alliance https://www.seattlecca.org/donate-and-volunteer/make-donation.