Obituary of Janet Findlay

Janet Amundson Findlay died at her home in Eugene on Sunday, July 28, 2013. She was born February 19, 1928 in Tacoma, Washington to William Sinclair Barnard and Doris Rehbock Barnard. She graduated from Sunnyside, Washington High School, earned a Bachelor of Arts at Washington State University in 1949, and completed graduate study at the University of Oregon. She married John Amundson on June 19, 1947 and was with him until his death in February, 1995. Jan married Ronald Findlay on July 31, 1999. After Ron’s death in July, 2007 Jan remained close to his children and her “second family.”Jan taught school in Eugene from 1949 to 1951. She and John spent a year living in Liverpool, England while he was on a Fulbright Scholarship in 1952-53, and during that year bicycled through Britain and Western Europe. She was the Business Manager for John’s architecture firm, Amundson Associates, Architects and Planners, from 1973 to 1993. She was active in civic affairs, and was the Eugene Woman of the Year in 1960. She served on the Board of Directors of the Eugene YMCA from 1965 to 1970 and the Eugene Airport Commission from 1973 to 1985. In 1987, she was appointed by the Oregon Supreme Court to the Oregon State Bar Disciplinary Board and served for two years. She was a member of the First Congregational Church and served as treasurer and on the Foundation Board. Jan was a charter member of Learning in Retirement (now known as OLLI-UO) and served as a council member.Jan enjoyed travelling and spending time on the Oregon coast and was interested in all aspects of aviation. She was a member of The Ninety Nines, International Organization of Women Pilots, and was an active pilot for more than 30 years.Jan was a devoted and loving wife, mother and grandmother and a wonderful friend. Survivors include her children Katie Amundson of Astoria, David Amundson and his wife Nan Laurence of Eugene, and Kristin Amundson and her husband Jason Hutchison of Vancouver, Washington, seven grandchildren (Lisa Loving, Brendan Soulé, Ana Zolotas, Lindsay Soulé, Niko Zolotas, Evan Amundson and Cora Amundson) and four great-grandchildren. Her second family includes stepson Laird Findlay and his wife Linda Bentsen, Martie Avels and her husband Jamie Avels, seven stepgrandchildren and three stepgreat-granchildren. She also leaves behind her dear friends Verda Giustina, Alice McIlvenna, Joan Crowe and all of the Crazy Eights. Jan's family would like to extend special thanks to Dr. Glenn Buchanan and Dr. Haidy Lee of the Willamette Valley Cancer Institute and to Ruby Bamer of Veneta for their compassionate and professional care.A memorial service for Jan will be held at 2:00 pm on Thursday, August 8, 2013, at the First Congregational Church, 1050 E. 23rd Avenue. Memorial contributions may be made to the First Congregational Church Foundation or the Eugene Family YMCA.