Obituary

Jean Yanity

Posted

Jean Yanity was born Lanetta Jean Tatro, Oct. 29, 1941, and died Oct. 24, 2018, five days shy of 77. She was born to a Stillaguamish mother, Lavaun Tatro. 

During an unintended blind date where she was supposed to meet Al Yanity’s friend, Al and Jean connected and the two became inseparable. In 1971, they started their new life in Fairbanks, Alaska. Along the way, Al adopted Jean’s two sons, Shawn and Larry, from a previous marriage. Nick, their third boy, was born to Jean and Al in 1975.

The couple eventually settled in Lakebay where they built a farm, a vineyard, an orchard and amazing memories. Jean was an incredible cook, a loving mom and devoted wife. She became known for the teddy bears she made for all the children in her family and any child or adult who needed one. 

Friends invited Jean and Al to visit them in Parker, Arizona during the winter months of 2005. A few more trips and two years later, the couple decided to make Havasu a winter home. They continued to spend their summers in Lakebay where the rest of the family resides.

The couple just finished building a new house in Lake Havasu City. Jean was looking forward to spending this winter in her Havasu dream home. Her favorite pastime while there was collecting rocks and she enjoyed going on rockhounding trips. Always with a smile on her face, her specialty was collecting rocks resembling aliens from outer space.

Jean is survived by husband Al, three sons, seven grandchildren and a great grandchild. 

A celebration of life is scheduled for April 27 at 11 a.m. at the Stillaguamish Community Center, 24308 55th Avenue Northeast in Arlington.


UNDERWRITTEN BY NEWSMATCH/MIAMI FOUNDATION, THE ANGEL GUILD, ROTARY CLUB OF GIG HARBOR, ADVERTISERS, DONORS AND PEOPLE WHO SUPPORT LOCAL, INDEPENDENT NONPROFIT NEWS