Jean Lois Catherine Gleason Richardson

Jean Lois Catherine Gleason Richardson, born in Great Falls, Montana, September 17, 1933 to Peter and Cora (Motari) Christensen, one of five children. Jean attended Franklin School and Great Falls High School. She married the love of her life Allan Gleason in Great Falls, Montana in 1950. The Family moved from Great Falls to Missoula, MT, in 1963 where jean began Volunteer training in Religious Education for the Catholic Church. She completed a 3 year training course in Seattle and was certified in Pastoral Ministry for Helena, Montana and the Seattle, Washington Arch Dioceses in 1979. Jean worked in Missoula, Montana until 1980 when her marriage to Allan ended. She moved to Bellingham, Washington for 5 years then to Seattle in 1986 where she worked as a Pastoral Assistant in Sacramental Preparation and Adult Religious Education and Outreach Ministry until 1994 when she retired because of health problems. She married Ray Richardson in 1992 in Great Falls, Montana and moved there in 1996. They have since divorced but remained close. Jean moved to Bellingham to be near her children in 2007. She enjoyed gardening, it was her passion, reading, cooking, music but most of all spending time with her family.

Jean was preceded in death by a grandson Mitchell and one brother and three sisters, and is survived by her children; daughters, Kathy Jipson and husband Ron, Terri Taylor and husband John and Sharon Gleason all of Bellingham, WA; son, David Gleason and wife Renee of Renton, WA; 5 grandchildren, Angela, Ritchie, Bradly, Chelesa and Alayna; numerous nieces, nephews and other relatives. A funeral mass will be held Wednesday, November 7, 2012, 12:00 noon at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 1110 14^th St., Bellingham, WA, with Fr. Joseph Altenhofen, Celebrant, a reception will follow in the Parish Hall. Private family inurnment will be at Bayview City Cemetery.