Jan Clay

Jan Clay passed away early Dec. 1, 2020, after a three-week battle with COVID-19.

She was born March, 16, 1943, and raised in Burien, Washington, with three younger brothers, Ronald, (killed in Vietnam), Richard and Stephen. She is preceded in death by two husbands. She married Ray Turner, (Athol, Idaho) at a young age.  Wanting nothing more than to be a mother, they adopted two babies: Tami, 1966 and Todd, 1968, raising them in Kent, Washington.

Jan remarried in 2003 (Gary Clay), living in Soap Lake, until moving to Sandpoint in 2015, to be closer to her daughter and son-in-law, Don. Jan overcame many health issues during the last 16 years. She thrived the most while attending exercise class at BGH. She loved the staff and the friendships she made with classmates. She would choose dumbbells by color rather than weight, so they matched her blouse! Jan felt it was her civic duty to try and make everyone laugh. She would tease anyone she knew, often giving them nicknames. She would say, "It's not spring unless I have a bouquet of daffodils.” Her bulbs will continue to bloom each spring as a tribute.

Anyone who knew Jan, knew her love for Bud Light and the Seahawks. She would say, "they can't win a game unless my nails are painted Seahawks' green and I drink two Bud Lights."

Jan is survived by brother, Richard (Washington); grandchildren: Damen, (California; affectionately still called "My DamyDoodle), Malori (Texas), Samantha, Casey, and Riley (Maryland); great-granddaughter, Annalie (Texas); and doting brother, Stephen; and brother-in-law, Geoffrey (British Columiba, Canada), whose love and support meant the world to her; and finally, her loyal and steadfast daughter, Tami and son-in-law, Don (Sandpoint).

Thank you for the incredible care the EMTs, doctors, nurses, and staff gave her at BGH. Thank you for the gift of continually playing her favorite Josh Groban music, to comfort her until the end.