Janet Mackey

JANET COLLIER MACKEY

Janet C. Mackey died in her sleep just six days before her 92nd birthday on March 21, 2012 in Olympia, WA where she had lived for almost fifty years. Janet was born to Ethan A. and Jeanette S. Collier in St. Helens, OR. She graduated from Roseburg High School in Roseburg, OR in 1938. While attending the University of Idaho, Janet Collier met Wayne S. Mackey. The couple was married in 1945 in Salem, OR, and started raising their family in Spokane, WA. In 1965, the family moved to Olympia, WA.

Janet finished her college education with a Masters in Educations from Western Washington University in 1967. Her teaching career began at Maple Lane School, a Washington juvenile facility, teaching English and Reading to high school age girls. The student body became co-ed and, by the time Janet retired in 1985, she was teaching just teenage boys.

Janet and Wayne were married for almost fifty four years before Wayne died in December 1999. Janet is survived by two sons and daughter-in-laws: Patrick (Judith) Mackey of Minneapolis, MN and James (Bonnie) Mackey of Shoreline, WA, and two daughters and son-in-laws: Mary Mackey (Dick Armstrong) of Olympia, WA and Joan Mackey (Bill Gunther) of Olympia, WA. Janet’s sister Barbara Goldstein lives in Portland, OR. Janet’s children have given her seven grandchildren: Ethan, Allison (Patrice), Jon (Katie), Blythe, Scott, Quinn (Annamarie) and Drew. She also has five great-grandchildren with a sixth child due in June.

Janet had many interests over her 91 years of life. Her husband was always interest number one. Janet’s children and the cats seemed at times to tie for second place, and she had a deep sense of pride in her family’s roots. Janet felt deeply about the need to educate future generations. She thoroughly relished in the students she taught at Maple Lane School. There was color, shape, size and texture in Janet’s life interests. The garden - she always had dahlias in her yard and relished the colors and sizes of the blooms. She enjoyed the use of textiles and naturals materials, and watching Wayne weaving and spinning yarns they had made. Of course, bargain hunting was always a passion of Janet’s. But reading was the greatest passion throughout all of her life. She always had books around her. And she loved the use and power of words.

Janet wrote “the common thread throughout my life has been my luck. I was lucky to be born to my parents. I was lucky to have had the family I had and to have lived when I did. I was lucky to have married an intelligent, good natured man who loved me, and who gave me four healthy intelligent children. And I was lucky your dad and I saw our children grow to be independent people who met wonderful people who make them happy.”

Janet was lucky to die in her sleep. Janet will be buried at Tahoma National Cemetery with Wayne. A family celebration will occur in the Summer.

The family would like to thank the wonderful staff at Lidia Nutu’s Adult Family Home for the love and care given to Janet. Memorial donations are suggested to Eldercare Resources of Olympia, 4620 Luhr Rd NE, Olympia, WA 98516.