Jean James

Jean Marie James, 86 of Auburn WA, passed to her eternal heavenly home on Tuesday, November 5th, 2024.

Born Emma Jean Hartley to Mary and Emery Hartley on June 12, 1938, in Nampa Idaho. Jean was the eldest of three surviving daughters, her parents losing their first daughter Lilian Rose only four days after her birth.

Jean grew up in Marysville Idaho until age ten when her family would move to Seattle. She graduate from Foster High school in 1956.

At age 21, while working as an office assistant where she met Ray, she married Raymond Walter Palfrey, and they had six children they raised in Renton, WA. They remained married 14 years. Jean worked very hard, full-time as a real estate agent, and then a split-shift waitress at Frederick & Nelson, to keep her children fed and the bills paid.

Jean enjoyed sewing, knitting, Trichem painting, camping, playing board games with her children, and Long Acres horse races.

In 1982, Jean met Reg in the parking lot of Long Acres. January of 1984 “Jeannie”would marry Reginald James. She would be blessed with two beautiful step-daughters, Melody and Kim, and a step-son Stewart. Jeannie and Reg would enjoy grandchildren and great grandchildren in their 39 years together until Reg would pass away in December of 2022. Together they enjoyed the horse races, camping, some traveling, Las Vegas casinos, and lot’s of family gatherings for holidays, birthdays, school graduations and anniversaries. Eventually they moved to a senior mobile home park in Auburn, WA. They also enjoyed a small cabin at Index for a few years. Their next mutual love affairs would be with their parrots, a cockatiel and a parakeet.

Jeannie was especially fond of her father-in-law -Grandpa James. She and Reg cared for him in their own home after he was diagnosed with esophageal cancer. She was devastated at his passing. She had a gift shop at the swap meet at the time. After his passing, Jeannie would buy her first desktop computer and learn how to move her gift shop online. Jeannie also loved socializing on Facebook, and writing an online health blog.

Jean is survived by her two younger sisters, Pearl Blaska and Avis Palfrey, her six children, Connie Palfrey Ehlers(Avery), Bonnie Palfrey, Robert Palfrey, Michelle Johnson, Michael Palfrey, and Barbara Hill, seven grandchildren and eight great grandchildren on her side, seven nieces, two nephews and their extended families, along with Reg’s children and their extended families.

A memorial service and luncheon are to be held on Sunday, November 17, 2024 at 1pm at the Edline-Yahn chapel reception room. A Mexican luncheon to be served.