Jayne McGrew Waldron
Jayne McGrew Waldron passed away peacefully at 8:43pm on May 16, 2016 at the age of 97 in Friday Harbor Washington with family.
Born in 1919 in Youngstown, Ohio. She was the daughter of Robert Edward and Golde (McKnight) McGrew. Her father’s career with Stone & Webster as a dam engineer meant the family lived in many cities across the country. Jayne graduated from high school in Stevenson, Washington in 1936. She graduated with a degree in advertising from University of Washington later working in the advertising department at Fredrick and Nelson in Seattle. During World War II Jayne worked in the Office of Censorship as a reader, which she found quite interesting. Jayne married Lawrence Galen Waldron, an architect, in 1943 and they settled in Seattle. In 1956 Lawrence designed and built a home on Mercer Island were they would raise 4 children and live for next 45 years. Jayne was a member if Emmanuel Episcopal Church on Mercer Island, Seattle Rhododendron Society, The Arboretum Foundation, and Women’s University Club, and the Seattle Yacht Club.
After her children left home she worked at the University of Washington Mining and Metallurgical Engineering Department until her retirement.
Jayne often said she felt a little like a military kid when growing up because the family moved so frequently. Jayne was a devoted wife and mother. People knew and loved her as a sparkling entertainer and a good friend. Having a green thumb she raised and planted dozens of rhododendrons from seed, which are now over 30’ tall at their Mercer Island home. Her passions were gardening, entertaining, travel, music, singing, movies, French cooking, friends and family. Jayne was an avid reader and willing to read anything. She also played the piano.
Jayne is predeceased by her loving husband of 57 years, Lawrence Galen Waldron, her sister Marion Anderson, her father Robert E. McGrew and mother Golde Mcgrew. She leaves behind her four children, David Lawrence Waldron of Friday Harbor, Washington, Robert Edward Waldron of Friday Harbor, Washington, Richard Holbrook Waldron of Friday Harbor, Washington and Sarah Margaret Waldron of Portland, Oregon, Grandchildren, Ben Waldron, Noah Waldron, Corwin Waldron, Trevor Waldron, Eli Waldron, Amanda Alquist. Great Grandchildren: Jaxson Waldron, Paloma Waldron, Pearl Waldron, Mable Waldron, and Kaden Alquist. Nine nieces, six nephews.
Services will be held 2 pm at Emmanuel Episcopal Church, 4400 86th Ave SE, Mercer Island, Washington on September 17, 2016. Interment of Jayne’s ashes will follow in the Emmanuel Episcopal Memorial Garden.
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society P.O. Box 22478 Oklahoma City, OK 73123.
The family wishes to extend their gratitude to Gail Garrett and Von Biggs of Friday Harbor and Hospice of San Juan for their tireless support in Jayne’s final days.
