JoAnna (Jody) Helene Hain Levenson Sutherland passed away on Sept. 25, 2017 with her family at her side. She was born on Feb. 1, 1930 in Van Nuys, California to Francis and Ruth Hain. Jody was the eldest of six children: Frank Hain Jr., Zoe Lowdermilk, Ona Martin, John Hain, and Mary Roberts.

Jody began work at a very young age. Her first job, at age six, was in the tomato fields. Her strong work ethic, led her to positions waiting at a local malt shop, working as an usherette at a movie theater, and working behind the counter at her grandparent’s bakery. An active child, Jody was an excellent student and loved tap and gymnastics. Her love of tap dancing led to a position as Shirley Temple’s stand in at the Shirley Temple School of Tap.

Jody attended Villa Cabrini Academy High School in Burbank, CA 1947, and in 1950 moved to Washington State to pursue nursing through a scholarship at St. Cabrini School of Nursing. In 1951, Jody met her first love, Hugh Levenson. They moved to a brick house in Clyde Hill where they raised their family of four children: Ruth, Kathy, Cheryl and Hugh Jr.

Jody was ahead of her time, balancing work and family life. She worked as a nurse for Dr. Campbell, an Obstetrician, while holding the positions of full-time mother of four children under five years of age, as cook, gardener, and active church attendee. In 1975, she diversified from Nursing and took a job at Rare Coin Gallery in downtown Seattle where she sold coins and stamps. Later Jody went to work at the Bellevue Clinic, as a Pediatric Nurse. It was during her time at the clinic that she met the second love of her life, Dr. Donald Sutherland. They married in 1983 at the Grand Canyon, and made their home in Medina, Washington.

Jody and Don worked side-by-side until retirement when they began a new adventure creating a home, called “Jo-Don,” on Shaw Island. Their now blended family comprised of eight children, their spouses and children, who fondly remembers annual “salmon bake” celebrations in July with water gun fights, badminton, boat rides, and work parties. Jody was an active member in the Shaw community, assisting with the library, while Don took on the role as the island’s emergency doctor. In between the island sunsets, they pursued their love of travel, visiting Africa, Australia, and Europe, but found true joy in Carlsbad and eventually settled on a vacation home in Palm Springs.

In 2007 Jody and Don reluctantly moved from their island home to Emerald Heights to be closer to family and medical care. Jody resided in the Emerald Heights for 11 years and was an active member of the community through participation in committees and providing activity support. Her final years were spent with her dog Shasta, reading, swimming and playing Bingo.

Jody is preceded in death by her parents and both her husbands: Hugh Levenson and Donald Sutherland. She is survived by a blended family, Ruth Norwood (Tom), Kathy Wood, Cheryl Rush, Hugh Levenson Jr. (Karen), Bruce Sutherland (Nancy), Debbie Graham, Joan Littlefield (Dennis), Jim Sutherland, numerous Grand and Great Grandchildren and all her siblings.

Celebration of life will be held at Emerald Heights Emerald Room (10901 176th Cir NE, Redmond, WA 98052) on Saturday, Oct. 28 at 10 a.m. Arrangements are in the care of Evans Funeral Chapel of Anacortes, Washington.

To share a memory of (Jody), please sign the online guest register at www.evanschapel.com