May 08, 1918 - March 24, 2017
Jean (age 98) was born May 8, 1918 to Bertha (Sherbeck) and Myron W. Ferguson in Spokane, WA. She passed away March 24, 2017. Jean grew up in Spokane, graduating from North Central High School in 1936. She received her BA in music from EWCE (EWU) and her Masters from Eastman School of music in Rochester, NY. Jean returned to Cheney, taking a position as a music instructor at EWCE where she became reacquainted with a former classmate Harold K. Stevens who taught in the drama department. They were married on August 20, 1946. In those days, spouses were not allowed to work at the same college so Jean became a homemaker, raising her 3 children; Mark (Lindsey), Kathy (Don) Kurtz, and Peggy (Joe) Lewis. She kept a large garden, canning and preserving fruits and vegetables, sewed all her childrens clothes, then taught the girls to sew for themselves. She knitted beautiful sweaters and tailored suites for herself. Jean taught piano privately for over 50 years., influencing generations of children and young adults. She was a member of Mu Phi Epsilon for 70 years. Jean was an accomplished pianist playing 2-piano concerts with James J. Edmonds from 1964-1984, all over the Inland Empire. During this time Jean became a church organist, playing for over 30 years at churches of several denominations. She enjoyed leading and playing for services at Touchmark, where she resided until her eyesight began to fail. Jean gave her full energy to her activities as well; hunting birds in her 40s, riding horses and cutting cattle in her 50s, downhill skiing and distance running in her 60s and finally golfing in her 70s. Jean was preceded in death by her husband Harold in 2000. She is survived by her 3 children, 4 grandchildren; Jennifer (Ben) Phillabaum, Stephanie (Ken) Florence, Christine and Rachel Lewis, 2 great-grandchildren Kira Schultz and Ethney Florence. A Memorial Service will be held at Touchmark, 2020 S. Waterford Drive, Spokane, WA 99203, on Thursday, March 30 at 2:00 pm. The family would like to give a very special thank you to Carole Stuart, the amazing staff at Touchmark and Hospice of Spokane. Please make memorial contributions to Hospice of Spokane, PO Box 2215, Spokane, WA 99210.
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