Jean V. Chatwin, 82
Jean V. Chatwin, 82, passed away in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho on Saturday, February 16, 2019.
She was born in Bourbon County, Kentucky on July 26, 1936, to Raleigh and Evelyn Foster and moved to Sandpoint, Idaho, with the family as a young child. Jean graduated from Sandpoint High School and began working at the hospital.
In the summer of 1957 she met a wildland firefighter from Texas, Kenneth Chatwin. They married that fall in Sandpoint, returned to Texas where Ken graduated from the University of Texas and they set about raising their family.
In 1971, they returned to Idaho and settled in Boise where Jean earned her nursing degree from Boise State University.
Employment opportunities then found Ken and Jean in Great Falls Montana, Fairbanks, Alaska, and Enumclaw, Washington, where Jean continued her career as a registered nurse. In 1999, they retired and returned to Sandpoint.
In retirement, Jean enjoyed traveling with Ken in their RV and had a passion for Brazilian needlework. It was a source of great pride and enjoyment for Jean to see her daughter and all three of her granddaughters follow in her footsteps and become registered nurses.
She was preceded in death by her sisters, Rita and Cathy; a brother, Raleigh; and her husband of 61 years, Kenneth Chatwin, who passed away on March 4, 2018.
She is survived by her children, Brian Chatwin of Spokane, Washington, and Katherine (Bill) Fransen of Olympia, Washington; grandchildren Jennifer Chatwin of Spokane, Kelly Chatwin of Post Falls, Idaho; Emily Fransen of Austin, Texas; Alec Fransen of Bend, Oregon; and great-granddaughter Zoey Cogswell of Spokane.
Jean’s family would like to express their deepest appreciation for the wonderful people of Liberty Dialysis who provided such kind and supportive care for Jean. Their contribution to Jean’s life in Sandpoint is immeasurable and for that we are profoundly grateful.
At Jean’s request, no public service will be held.
Memorial donations in memory of Jean can be made to the: Panhandle Animal Shelter, 870 Kootenai Cutoff Road,Ponderay, ID 83852; 208-265-7297; pasidaho.org; or the National Kidney Foundation, Inc., 30 East 33rd Street, New York, NY 10016; 1-800-622-9010; info@kidney.org.