Obituary of Jayna M. Blackwell

JAYNA M. BLACKWELL Jayna M. Blackwell died peacefully at home Jan. 21, 2014. She was 93. Jayna was born Oct. 21, 1920, in Whiting, Iowa, to Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Moon. She graduated from Moorhead High School in 1938, as the salutatorian of her class with an achievement award in declamatory. She met the love of her life, Vearl Blackwell, when she went shopping at the Blackwell market, looking for food for her pet fox. They were married March 16, 1941, and shared 71 wonderful years of marriage until he died in April, 2012. Vearl and Jayna moved to Washougal in 1948, but traveled back to Iowa each year to visit family. For 32 years Jayna was the lead secretary at Hathaway Elementary School, where she thoroughly enjoyed working with the children and watching them grow. She was an active member of Bethel Community Church in Washougal for more than 60 years. Jayna loved God and her family. She was an amazing seamstress, very creative, and was a fantastic speller. The highlight of her life was her grandson, Adam, and see never missed a concert, program or sporting event that he was involved in from preschool through college. Jayna was preceded in death by her husband, Vearl. She is survived by her daughter, Catherine Dale Cotton; grandson, Adam Joanne Cotton; great granddaughter, Lillian Jayna Cotton; cousin, Doris Lancaster; nephew, John Sandy Dean; nieces, Carolyn Tom Hoy, Pat Ted Young and Donna, Peterson; and two great nieces and two great nephews. A celebration of life service will beheld Saturday, Feb. 8, at 2 p.m. at Bethel Community Church. Memorial donations can be made to Bethel Community Church.