Obituary of Nada Evelyn Jarvis

Nada Jarvis Nada was born on July 3, 1922 in Winthrop Washington. Her father, Evan Jones, was a Game Warden and her mother, Flora Filer Jones, was a Teacher. She was the youngest of 4 children. Nada was a bit of a tomboy and was know for jumping off the house roof and rafting on the Willamette River in a raft she and her friend had made. She graduated from Winthrop High School and then went on to get her Bachelor Arts Degree from Western Washington University in Bellingham. Her first teaching job was in Cashmere. She taught Kindergarten to third grade, specializing in reading skills. Nada was highly thought of through out her career. Her favorite grade to teach was second grade. In High School she met her future husband, Leo Jarvis, at a sporting event. Leo was playing for the opposing team from Republic. The romance built through the war years. A chance event put them together in Seattle after the war. Nada had missed her train and was waiting for the next train. Leo had been a POW in Germany and was on his way back to Republic when they met. They talked for a while and then Nada helped Leo find the correct train home. Leo says that she was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. Later that year they were married. Nada retired from teaching in 1987 but continued to volunteer as a teaching aid and later as a mentor for young teachers. They lived in Republic and Leo worked in the saw mill and Nada taught school. While living in Republic, Nada heard a noise on the back porch. She armed herself with her favorite weapon, a broom, and went out to find out what was the racket. Nada took a swing at the half seen intruder and then realized it was a black bear eating her peaches. Nada ran back in the house and slammed the screen door and used a bread knife to jam the door so it would not open. The bear ran up the hill and away from the house. The next day Nada was really mad when she found all the peaches spoiled and a trail left by the bear as he threw them up while running away. Nada liked to keep busy. Along with her career and her family, she enjoyed shopping, traveling, art and painting, hand crafts, decorating her home, flowers and bird watching. She was often helping others. Nada did a Crossword puzzle almost every day. She was a member of the West Valley Womens Association and several book clubs. She also loved having a beautiful garden, especially when she could get some one else to help her with the weeding. One story Nada often told on Leo was when she sent him out to prune her favorite rose bush. After a while she checked on him and the bush was lopsided, so she told him to fix it. Log story made short, by the time Leo was done there were two leaves left. They lived in Republic Washington, Bellingham Washington, Kalispell Montana, Casper Wyoming, Ephrata Washington, Yakima Washington and finally in Vancouver Washington. After retirement, Leo and Nada enjoyed traveling with the Elks trailer club called the Sun Catchers. They also traveled extensively across the US and took the Alaska Highway to Alaska. One of the long standing jokes in the family was about stopping at the Cataldo Mission, a stop that never happened. Nada was a good will ambassador at her previous home, Englewood Heights, in Yakima. A job she was well suited for with her quick smile and lively manner. She kept busy here at the Waterford as well. She was a member of the Gallery committee. After moving to the Waterford, Nada and Leith started an artists group who meet weekly. Every one was invited to bring their own projects or join Nada and Leith in their current project. Her little flower garden delighted us all. She was always up for a game of cribbage or pinocle with family or friends. And, of course....BINGO! She even, very bravely, took a part in the Waterford Theaters recent play. Although she claimed to be tone deaf, she always looked forward to Sing Along with Irene and singing the old hymns with Leo and Reverend Smitely on Sundays. Nada has three surviving children. Scott of Spokane, Bryan of Yakima, who followed her into teaching and Leith, an artist of Camas. Eleven grand children and seven great grand children, all of whom made her happy and proud. Nada's family would like to thank the caring and sensitive professionals, her loving extended family, and her wonderful circle of friends who have filled her days with loving kindness, smiles, and laughter. Thank you all so much.