Obituary of Jane Shawen

Jane Wagstaff Shawen passed away peacefully at her home with family at her bedside after a prolonged illness. Jane was born on March 29, 1942, in Havre, Montana to George and Laura Wagstaff. She waited in the delivery room patiently sucking her thumb for over two hours for her twin sister Joan to arrive. The doctor told Jane's mother that she was the mother of fraternal twins, even though they looked identical and could only be identified correctly by a small birthmark on Jane's back. The twins were named after English ancestors and joined two older brothers and a sister in their home in Chinook, Montana where their father worked for U&I Sugar Company. In late 1944 Jane moved to Spokane (Millwood) Washington where her father started his own business as a machinist. The family lived in a bungalow-style house on a large lot with a chicken coop, barn for their cow Mariah, a building for her father's machine shop and a garden area to keep them busy with weeding. Having a twin sister meant Jane always had someone to play with so life was fun on the little farm. Jane had many wonderful memories of growing up in the Millwood area. She and Joan attended West Valley School District where they participated in dance and cheerleading. After graduating from high school in 1960 Jane and her twin moved to Provo, Utah to attend Brigham Young University, where she majored in Homemaking Education. Jane met her spouse Robert Joe Shawen at a church dance in 1957. They married on September 3, 1964, in Spokane, Washington and were later sealed in the Los Angeles LDS Temple. Jane and Robert (Bob) returned to Spokane and bought an old farmhouse on Bigelow Gulch Road. They spent many years fixing up and improving their dream home and raising their 5 children. Jane was happiest when serving others and her family. She loved to create, paint, sew, and collect antiques. Her family meant more to her than anything. Jane and her family enjoyed fun-filled summers at their family cabin on Coeur d'Alene Lake, trips to Utah to see her twin, as well as many family road trips. Jane is survived by her siblings Frank Wagstaff (Spokane, WA), Jennet Siniff (Spokane, WA) and her children Heidi (Brett) Van Way (Spokane, WA), Scott (Linda) Shawen (Charlotte, NC), Jennifer (Darin) Christensen (Spokane, WA), Rachel (Scott) Davis (Elk, WA), Sarah (Kai) Hirabayashi (Silver Spring, MD), 14 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren. Jane was preceded in death by her parents, Laura and George, her husband Bob, her beloved twin sister Joan, and her brother Bill. A memorial service will be held Friday February 10th at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Foothills building (5322 N. Evergreen Rd. Spokane, WA 99216) at 10:00 AM. In lieu of flowers please donate to Project ID https://projectidspokane.org/donate/ Copy and paste this link to watch the zoom stream: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88963077420