Janet Girts

   Janet, a resident of Spokane Valley since 1971, passed away on December 3, 2025. She was born in 1932 to Jacob and Tena Olsen. After moving around to several towns in Eastern Washington, she went to school in Colfax, WA. She met her husband Dick in Colfax, and they were married in Walla Walla in 1949. They lived in Colfax, Dayton, Spokane, Bellevue, and Auburn before settling in Spokane Valley.

   Janet worked as a school secretary for the Central Valley School District, most of the time at Evergreen Jr. High. She had many friends from her working years that she still met with to visit over breakfast or lunch.

   Janet was creative. She loved music, singing, dancing, and she was a skilled seamstress. She made most of her daughters’ clothes when they were growing up. She also made many beautiful quilts over the years. She knitted and crocheted many sweaters too. She was always making something! Janet loved gardening, swimming, playing cards and other games. Janet loved watching sports. She followed the Mariners, Seahawks, Gonzaga basketball, and liked to watch ice skating and gymnastics. She went to her daughters’, grandkids’ and great grandchildren’s activities as long as she could.

   Janet is survived by two daughters, Debbie Girts (Richard Phillips) of Clinton, WA and Jennifer Daly (Mick) of Spokane Valley; five grandchildren, AJ Grabos (Rosa) of Hood River, OR, Alyssa Yost (Terren) of Spokane, Sean Daly of Spokane, Sophie Raider (Roy) of Vancouver, BC, and Cooper Phillips of Seattle. She is also survived by five great grandchildren and another on the way.

   She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Dick; her sister, Ilene Lacey; and her oldest daughter, Dixie Grabos.

   Thank you to Orchard Crest Retirement Community, Phoebe’s House, Sunshine Adult Family Home #1, and Gentiva Hospice for caring for and loving Janet in her last months.

   A memorial and interment will be held in the Spring or Summer at Pines Cemetery.