Jeanie (nee Winnie Jean) was born in Geddes, South Dakota, to Walter and Winifred (Young) Mollet.
Walt, Winnie, and Jeanie, moved out west to the Yakima/Selah area a couple of years later. Brother Donnie and sister Janice were born there in 1934 and 1941. They stayed in the general area, moving several times for a variety of jobs for Walt, including Washougal for Kaiser shipyards during the war.
Always an excellent student, she was Salutatorian for her Selah High School class of 1950, and was involved in activities and clubs. She played piano, sang in choir, and accompanied musical groups throughout high school. She would go on to instill in her children this lifelong passion for music. A little boy moved across the alley in Selah when she was 3. She remembered he would pull her around in his wagon, and her mother remembered that he would peek over the fence with his big brown eyes and slowly and sweetly ask, “Can Jeanie come out to play?” During her senior year, she was set up on a blind date by friend, Dale French. Her date turned out to be that neighbor boy, Jerry Pickens. They married in 1951 and remained happily in love until his passing 63 years later.
She went to Yakima Junior College for a year and studied for a time at the University of Washington, intending to major in Home Economics. Life, the first 4 kids in 5 years, happened instead. They lived in the U district and she cared for their kids and helped Jerry finish his degree at the UW. She and Betty, Donnie’s wife, belonged to a group called DAMES, a support group for women helping their husbands through college.
By 1965 they moved to Bothell where they lived for 49 years, raising their kids, hosting all manner of gatherings – family, extended family, friends, their beloved “Adventure Group” friends, exchange students, preschool families, and more. She was very involved in her kids’ lives – attending all of their various sports events, recitals, performances, and was active in PTA (Golden Acorn Recipient), Music Boosters, Scouts, and room mother.
She started teaching parent education classes through Shoreline Community College when her youngest (5thchild) started school. She taught Bothell Co-op Preschool for 27 years. She was a forerunner and fervent advocate for Early Childhood Education. She taught Sunday School as well, and was a devoted lifelong member of Bothell First Lutheran Church. As a member of the MaryAnn Bothell Guild for Children’s Hospital, for decades she helped raise money for the Uncompensated Care Unit. A quote she hung on her wall until the end was, “If we don’t stand up for children, then we don’t stand for much.” -Marian Wright Edelman
Sewing was another passion. And she was fabulously talented at all kinds of sewing, stitchery and other crafts. She perfectly and meticulously handmade hundreds of all types of clothes, Norwegian Hardanger, smocking (winning several ribbons at the fair for smocked dresses), Norwegian Rosemaling painting, shadow embroidery, and many more.
Jean dearly loved all of her family and friends. And she was very kind to everyone she ever encountered.
Beyond her love of family, friends, music, teaching, helping children, sewing and other artistic projects, she enjoyed learning, traveling, bicycling, camping, and years (since 1958) of fun times at their Lake Walker cabin.
In 2014 Jerry needed more care and they moved into Aegis Lodge assisted living. After Jerry passed on, she stayed. She missed her Bothell home a lot, but always kept a good attitude and she was safe and well cared for there. In June she got pneumonia, and her body couldn’t recover. She passed on, September 4th, at View Ridge Care Center in Everett, WA.
She was predeceased by her parents; her husband, Jerry; and son, Craig.
She is survived by son, Wayne (Dina); daughter, Teri Parsons (Bill); son, Brian (Merrie); daughter, Janine Tomlinson (Scott); ten grandchildren and fourteen great grandchildren.
Jean was laid to rest at Floral Hills on September 14. Her cousin, Rev. Marvin Langeland, officiated the ceremony.
All are welcome to attend the celebration of her life on Saturday September 28th, 1:00 p.m. at Bothell First Lutheran Church.
Remembrances may be made to Bothell First Lutheran Endowment or Seattle Children’s Hospital Uncompensated Care.
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