Dorothy Jean WUTHNOW 

April 7, 1925 ~ June 5, 2008 Jeannie's spirit departed our world on the morning of June 
5, 2008 with the love and support of her daughters, extended family and friends. She 
was an inspiration and role model to many and will be greatly missed. Jean was the 
second child, and only girl, of four children born to Ben and Jessie (Webster) Beach of 
Friday Harbor, San Juan Island. Her family roots came from Montana homesteaders and 
she considered herself a tomboy from an early age. She could often be found climbing 
trees and roughhousing, and she spoke with fondness of days playing in the sand at 
False Bay. She also loved accompanying her father in the family's small boat, the "Ben 
Boldt", between islands while he worked as the San Juan County Agriculture Agent 
and the first Grange Master. When she was 9 years old the family moved to 
Snohomish, where she lived until graduating from Snohomish High School in 1943. A 
free spirit and adventurer throughout her life, Jeannie worked as a stewardess for 
United Airlines in the days when the propeller-powered planes were not pressurized and 
flying was still a risky business. She made lifelong friends with 3 other stewardesses she 
roomed with, and married Pete Webb, a United captain, in October 1950. Pete and 
Jean had a daughter, Melissa, while living in Connecticut. Pete was tragically killed in a 
plane crash in 1955 when Melissa was just 16 months old and Jean moved back to 
Seattle to be with her family. Forever fascinated with pilots, planes and flying, Jean 
married another United pilot, Donald Wuthnow, in 1957. Don brought a 
daughter,Susan, to the new marriage and they had two more daughters, Julie and 
Dona, in the coming years. Much of Jean's energy, creativity and enthusiasm went into 
raising her family, gourmet cooking, and gardening at their home of 25 years on East 
Lake Sammamish. During these years, it became clear that Jeannie was a gifted artist 
in everything she did. Her green thumb and artistic eye produced bounteous and 
beautiful gardens, truly creative meals, and she and Don became known for hosting 
generous parties with a special touch. Busy years with family didn't completely distract 
her from adventure, though; Jean decided to take up flying herself and received her 
private pilot license at age 47. Jean had a lifelong zeal for adventure & travel. Spring 
and summers were full of camping, fishing, and international vacations; fall was hunting 
and winter skiing. After each daughter graduated from high school she took them on 
their own special trip to a European country. In the early 1970's Don & Jean traded in 
the fishing boat for a 35' trawler, and cruising the waters between Seattle and SE 
Alaska became a passion. In 1984, when Don suddenly died of a heart attack, Jean 
kept the boat (now a 41 ft. trawler) and captained it herself, taking a month-long 
sojourn to British Columbia's Sunshine Coast in his memory with daughter Dona. In 
1985 Jean sold her house in LaConner, moved onto the boat in Lake Union in Seattle, 
and went back to school. With the kids grown and gone, she explored her creativity in 
drawing, oil, acrylic and water color painting, and sculpture, and produced an 
impressive body of work. In 1986 she moved to Sunset Hill in Ballard and joined Crone 
of Puget Sound, where she participated on their board of directors, as the newsletter 
artist, as a singer in the Rolling Crones Choir and attended numerous workshops and 
seminars. In her more than 15 years with Crone, Jean developed many dear friendships, 
and had many life changing experiences that, in keeping with the group's motto, helped 
her to grow old with "power, passion, and purpose". In her later years she continued to 
travel, exploring the western U.S. in her small RV and continuing to take trips abroad. 
Jean also loved dogs and over the years adopted 2 rescued greyhounds, Cleo and 
Nicky, and a rescued bichon/poodle mix, Mandy, who was her dear companion until 
2006. Although her family became dispersed around the globe over the years, Jean 
remained close to her 4 daughters, traveling to visit them as long as she was able. She 
was blessed with 4 granddaughters who were bright lights in her life in later years and 
with whom she shared her loving independent spirit. Jean will live in the hearts of her 
surviving family: brothers Ben Beach (Yreka, CA), Tom and wife Marilyn Beach (Des 
Moines, WA); Daughters Melissa "Missy" and husband Ed Hooton (Cabo San Lucas), 
Susan Beddig (Hamburg), Julie Wuthnow and partner Cate Kearney (Christchurch, NZ), 
Dona Wuthnow (Friday Harbor); Granddaughters Katalina & Aerin Hooton (Fountain 
Valley CA), Zoe Euteneuer (Munich), and Jessie Wuthnow Pachuta (Friday Harbor); 
and in the hearts of many dear friends. A celebration of Jean Wuthnow's life will be held 
on June 18 at 2 p.m. at: Shoreline Unitarian Universalist Church 14724 First Avenue 
Northeast Shoreline WA 98155 206-363-7994 In lieu of flowers please consider a 
memorial donation to: PAWS-Progressive Animal Welfare Society, P.O. Box 1037 
Lynnwood, WA 98046. http://paws.org/help/donate Friends of the San Juans - P.O. 
Box 1344, Friday Harbor, WA 98250 


Published in print on 6/15/2008. 
Seattle Times