Janice (Hayfield) Wright

Janice (Hayfield) Wright passed peacefully with both her daughters at her side on Saturday, August 11, 2012.

Janice was born on September 4, 1929 in Spokane, Washington to Phil and Ruth Hayfield. The family resided in Tekoa, Washington until they moved back to the family ranch outside Dusty, Washington. The ranch held many wonderful memories for her. Even following Janice’s family relocation to Oakland, California when she was 11 years old, every summer vacation through high school found Janice back home at her beloved family’s ranch.

Not surprisingly, following her graduation from high school, Janice chose to return to Washington’s Palouse to attend Eastern Washington State College. It was while at Cheney that she met her future husband Arthur (Bud) Wright and they married during their senior year of college, then both went on to earn their teaching certificates.

After college graduation they took teaching positions in Coulee Dam, Washington which was supposedly a temporary location. As they would find out, it was their lifetime home.

Janice took time off from teaching to have her children, daughters Vicki and Kay and remained at home for 10 years at which point in time she resumed her teaching career, first with the Nespelem School District, prior to moving on to Center School in Grand Coulee, Washington where she taught until she retired in 1983.

Janice and Bud enjoyed many years of retirement which included camping, golfing, and most importantly following their granddaughters, Mandi and Lindsay’s sporting events. Nothing gave them more joy than watching the girls compete in whatever sport they were involved in.

Following the passing of her beloved Bud in 2004, Jan continued to live in the family home.

Years later she enjoyed the company of her special friend Dick Jacobs who provided Janice much happiness during the remainder of her life.

Janice was a joy to whomever she met. She felt blessed to always have her family a phone call away. She appreciated her son-in-law, Mike Zowada, who always lent a helping hand whenever possible.

She had a wonderful sense of humor and was quick to laugh. Those she loved, she loved with her whole heart and soul, and those of us who loved her are left with a void that will be filled with all the loving memories we have. We were fortunate to have such a wonderful,l caring mom, grandmother, sister, aunt, and great grandmother and she will always be present in our lives.

Janice is survived by her daughters Vicki Zowada (Mike) and Kay Leonard, granddaughters Mandi Button (Rich) and Lindsay Brashears (Curtis), Brother John Hayfield, and great grandchildren Lilly, Karsen, Hope and Jaeger and numerous extended family. Jan’s friends are invited to join her family for a celebration of her life on Tuesday, September 4, 2012 at 2:00pm at the residence of Mike and Vicki Zowada.