Gennevee (Jenny) Wade peacefully went to be with the Lord Tuesday, May 8th, in Chehalis, Washington.
Jenny was born August 5th, 1937 in Hope, Arkansas to Levi and Lorene Wren. She was the oldest of seven siblings: Alvin, Wanda, Sylvia, Virginia, Bill, and Ed.
Her family moved to Lincoln, California in 1945 when she was eight years old. She was raised with an active involvement in church. Much of her time was spent helping care for her younger siblings, and many evenings were spent playing marbles, dominoes, and Chinese checkers with her family.
Jenny met Houston Wade, the love of her life, while picking fruit in the Ophir orchards. They married in August 1953. They spent their early married years living and raising their children in Auburn, California. On the way back from a family adventure to Alaska they stopped in the Twin Cities. Within a few months they moved to Chehalis, where they remained for the rest of their lives. Their three children also made Chehalis their permanent home and raised their families there.
While living in Auburn Jenny worked as a Bell telephone operator. After moving to Chehalis she worked for 20 years in the Lewis County assessor’s office at the courthouse in Chehalis, including serving two terms as Lewis County assessor.
Family and faith were Jenny’s priorities. She taught Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, and participated in Women’s Missionary Union and various other mission programs. She attended First Baptist Church in Chehalis and was involved with Lewis County Democrats, Toastmasters, and Soroptimists.
Jenny enjoyed her historic home, antiques, and collecting depression glass. She was an excellent seamstress and cook. Her family looked forward to the many special dishes that she prepared. In retirement, Jenny and Houston enjoyed spending winters traveling with their RV in California and Arizona.
Family gatherings and spending time with her children and their families were especially important to Jenny. Her seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren were a blessing in her life. She supported them in their activities and was very proud of their accomplishments.
Jenny was a devoted wife and mother. She and Houston were married 44 years before his passing.
She was also predeceased by her oldest son, Jon Wade.
She is survived by her daughter Susan Shepherd and her husband Brett; son Steve Wade and his wife Kathryn; daughter-in-law Corie Wade; grandchildren Jordan Shepherd and his wife Tess; Matt, Jamie, and Jonny Wade; Nathan, Brock, and Lauren Wade; and great grandchildren Sophia Gennevee and Maddox Wade Shepherd.
A memorial service for Jenny will be held at 1:00 pm on Saturday, May 19th at First Baptist Church of Chehalis (renamed Grace Church), 1866 South Market Blvd. in Chehalis with Reverend Skip Grover officiating. There will be a reception in the fellowship hall immediately following the service. A private family burial will be held.
Remembrances can be made to The Lustgarten Foundation (lustgarten.org) for pancreatic cancer research or to the First Baptist Church of Chehalis.
The family would like to thank those who gave Mom compassion and quality care during these past few years. We deeply appreciate the love and support expressed to our family during this time.
Psalm 23
