Obituary: Eades, Jean
Age 90
EADES, Jean
(Luft)
(Age 90)
Jean passed quietly to the Lord on March 3, 2012.
The daughter of Adam and Katie Luft, she was born in Endicott, WA on January 12, 1922.
Jean was preceded in death by brothers Richard and Robert and survived by her beloved husband Elmer; son Randall Phelps; sister Juanita Anderson; two grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
With the exception of the past few months, Jean resided in Whitman County for her entire life graduating from Winona High School in 1940 where she and sister Juanita starred on the team that captured the championship of the 1938 IE Girls Basketball tournament.
In her adult years, Jean owned and operated the Winona Grocery Store until the mid-1950s at which time she relocated to Colfax where she was employed as the bookkeeper for McSweeney Tractor Co.
While in that position she met and in 1962 married husband Elmer.
For the next four decades they formed an inseparable team that managed the family farm and a commercial trucking business in the St. John area.
Jean was struck with colon cancer in 1979.
By virtue of her indomitable spirit and perseverance, she survived and continued to lead an active and fruitful life.
She and Elmer enjoyed attending basketball games, traveling in their RV and snowmobiling at their favorite getaway, Priest Lake.
After retiring from active farming, they relocated from the family farm to a new home in St. John in 2000.
They enjoyed independent living in their home will into their late 80s at which time health factors necessitated a move to the Touchmark retirement facility in 2011.
Jean leaves a legacy of generosity, graciousness and selflessness which touched all those who had the joy of being in her presence.
She will be missed but she is now in the hands of our Lord, free of pain and the challenges of advanced aging.
A memorial service will be held in St. John at a later date.
For further information, please contact Elmer at 509-321-8337 or Randy at 509-703-9597.