Jan Osborn, 69, of Friday Harbor, Wash., died Aug. 15 in the ICU at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Bellingham, Washington. Her niece, Deanna Osborn of Friday Harbor, was at her side. Jan had been flown off San Juan Island after experiencing breathing difficulties and a major coronary event.
Jan was born on May 17, 1946, in Pasadena, California to Eldon and Betty Osborn. She graduated from Pasadena High School and received her Bachelor’s Degree from Occidental College in Los Angeles. She moved to San Juan Island to continue graduate work at the Friday Harbor Labs. She eventually received a Master’s Degree from the University of Washington and remained on the island.
Never actually working professionally in her academic field, Jan pursued other interests and carved out a niche for herself on San Juan Island. She purchased property and made Friday Harbor her home. She had a series of “careers” that included cabinet making, school playground supervision, newspaper printing press operator, women’s music festival carpenter, and legal advocacy for Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Services.
In addition, she served the community as a Girl Scout Troop Leader, a member of the Board of the Mullis Community Senior Center, a member of the boards of the Washington State and National Chapters of the National Organization of Women (NOW), and was an outspoken activist for those in need and members of minority groups.
Jan was predeceased by her father. She is survived by her mother, her sister Kitty Smith (Ed), her brother Ted Osborn (Cindy), three nieces (Kelly, Beth, and Deanna), one nephew (Robert), three great nieces (Alyssa, Caitlyn and Elizabeth), one great nephew (Holden), and numerous cousins throughout the world.
A celebration of Jan’s life will be held at the Mullis Community Senior Center in Friday Harbor, Wash., on Sunday, August 23, at 1 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Friday Harbor Food Bank (PO Box 1642, Friday Harbor, WA 98250), Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Services (PO Box 1516, Eastsound, WA 98245) or The Mullis Community Senior Center (PO Box 684, Friday Harbor, WA 98250).
