Janice (Gravette) Cole

January 08, 1924 - August 19, 2017

Janice (Gravette) Cole Obituary (Age 93) Born January 8, 1924 in Bellflower, California to Robert Bruce Gravette and Ollie Elizabeth (Strange) Gravette. Died peacefully on August 19, 2017, surrounded by her loving family. Beloved wife of 62 years of the late King Forrest Cole, Jan was raised in and adored Northern California, but found a true home in Spokane when she and King moved their family of ten to the Northwest in 1963. The area reminded her of many happy times in her childhood home of Red Bluff, where she later taught elementary school, and of the Mt. Lassen region where she spent summers, especially her beloved Mineral, California. Kings work brought them to Spokane; over the decades, they traveled the world but spent the rest of their lives cherishing and extolling the virtues of their chosen home. Janice was a gracious hostess notably leading up to and during the Spokane Worlds Fair, Expo 74, which King brought to fruition with her unflagging support. She always had room at their enormous family table for another visitor, friend, dignitary, or neighborhood kid When youre feeding this many people, whats one or two more?! Janice was a daughter of the American West whose forbearers arrived in covered wagons. Her childhood was full of hardship her family lived in tents on a riverbank at one point during the Depression, and her father died when she was a little girl. But her mother, Ollie, persevered, raising her five children alone while starting a business and building a house, providing Janice and her four siblings with college educations and a powerful role model. Janice was smart and precocious, starting college at the age of 16; she loved her alma mater, Chico State, but also cherished her time in the Chi Omega sorority at UC Berkeley. She loved watching sports and a good western, she was artistic and creative, and she enjoyed making a home warm and welcoming. She was funny and fun-loving from her (in)famous April Fools Day gags, to unbirthday parties, to being den mother to Scout and Campfire groups, to the playhouse and treehouse she built for her grandkids, to annual summer-long camping at Lake Christina in British Columbia and skiing at Schweitzer. Shed drop everything for a game of Jacks and loved to mystify guests with The Magazine Game, or to create an obstacle course in the backyard for whatever children were there. Her Catholic faith was central to Janices life. She converted when she married King and was very involved in her community, including hosting informal civil rights meetings in her living room with multiracial teenagers in the late 60s. In her parish, Our Lady of Fatima, Janice worked on the churchs Guatemala Sister Parish mission, was a substitute teacher, and taught catechism. She served on the board of directors of Family Services Spokane, where she organized local builders to create playhouses for the annual auction; spent several years as a volunteer and fundraiser for the YWCA; was a member of the Sacred Heart Service League; and worked as a volunteer with the Spokane Community Colleges Foundation. She also found time to act as administrator to her husbands consulting business, King Cole, Inc. Janice was a loving Mom to her eight children; and a fun and inventive Granny to 17 grandkids, 15 great-grandkids, and 5 great-great-grandkids. She is survived by and will be sorely missed by her gang: Bruce Cole (Cath'), Ellen Cole (Michael Daum), Joan Duffell (Denny), Mary Cole, Nancy Cole, Lisa Taylor (Scott), Marty Cole (Ki Gottberg), John Cole (Mary Ellen) and all of their kids and grands. In addition, Janice was a much-loved Aunt Jan to scores of devoted nieces and nephews who also mourn her passing. Besides her parents and husband, Janice was predeceased by three of her beloved siblings and the Outlaws: Bruce Gravette (Chris), Genevieve Wadlington (Don), and Mary McClellan (Joe); as well as her treasured sisters-in-law, Marilyn McCrea (Harry) and Barbara Bentz (Ron). Janice is survived by her dear youngest brother Robert Gravette (Helen), of Weaverville, CA. In addition, she is survived by her beloved friend and long-time neighbor, Carol Barber (Bill) as well friends across the Northwest and around the world. While Alzheimers robbed Janice of many years of potential travel and time with her large and far-flung family, it never stole her essential loveliness. We were lucky to have her as long as we did, and we witnessed her humor and experienced her graciousness right up to the end. Her faith was a constant force; she never doubted that in death she would be united forever with God and her loving husband, King. The family is thankful for the Alzheimers Associations support and assistance, and for their hard work towards a cure for this dreadful disease (alz.org/alzwa/); and to Hospice of Spokane for their tender care at the end of Moms life (hospiceofspokane.org). We are forever in debt to the amazing team at Rockwood Courtyard where Jan spent her final years, where she was dearly loved and will be sorely missed (rockwoodretirement.org). We encourage gifts in Janices name to one of these worthy nonprofit organizations, or to the King and Jan Cole Scholarship Fund at Eastern Washington University, which provides funding to students pursuing a degree in Urban and Regional Planning: EWU Foundation, Account #98618, 102 Hargreaves Hall, Cheney, WA 99004-2413. Janices life will be celebrated at a memorial Mass 1:30pm on August 29, 2017 at Our Lady of Fatima Church, 3327 S. Perry St, Spokane followed by a reception. A private graveside service will be held by the family. � To plant a beautiful memorial tree in memory of Janice, please visit our Tree Store. Read more Events AUG 19