Jeanette (Jan) Brown was born to Lois and Ted Simons in Silverdale, WA in September 1936, joining her two older sisters, Jessie and Gloria. After graduating from high school, Jan worked for a few years at the Bremerton Shipyards and Standard Oil. She later moved to La Mirada, CA to attend Biola College where she earned her degree and teaching credentials and went on to begin her career teaching 3rd and 4th graders in the Norwalk, California School District.
In 1965, Jan and Keith were both attending The Church of the Open Door in Los Angeles when they met through mutual friends. After dating for several years, they were married in June of 1968 in Edmonds, WA. Jan moved into Keith’s apartment in Inglewood, CA where she continued her teaching in the Hawthorne School District. After several years living in Inglewood they bought a home in Torrance where they lived until 1997.
In 1996, Jan retired after over 30 years of pouring her heart and soul into her teaching and the students she so loved. This love continued even after retirement as she would often volunteer to tutor children who needed that extra bit of attention. When Keith retired in 1997, they decided to move to Mukilteo, WA to be closer to Jan’s family.
Jan had a spirit of adventure and loved to travel. She had many trips not only within the US but so many internationally that she had visited all the continents except Australia! Whether floating in a hot air balloon over the Serengeti, riding on the Orient Express, walking part of the Great Wall of China, visiting the Holy Land, or strolling amongst penguins in Antarctica, Jan was always ready to explore a new part of the world.
Reading was another of Jan’s passions. As a small girl, she would often grab a book, find a spot on the beach where her family lived and get lost in the story. She was an avid reader of the Bible and participated in many Bible studies over the years. Books were always part of Jan’s travel adventures…it wasn’t uncommon for her to have 3 or more books in her suitcase and, often, at least one of the books was set in the location she was off to visit.
On August 31, 2019, Jan went home to be with her Heavenly Father after navigating many years with dementia. She will be deeply missed but will be fondly remembered by the many people whose lives she touched…students, friends, family and Keith.
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