After the recent accidental death of honorary Grant Cottage board member Treat Williams, the loss of Jeannie Woutersz (pronounced Waters) hits closer to home, although since she was 93 years old it can hardly be called unexpected.
Jeannie was a solid working board member for many years, which she fitted in with a full range of other commitments. I can't remember when I met her, but we got better acquainted when I was on the Grant Cottage staff as site interpreter for a couple of seasons in 2009-10. Since then I would run into her from time to time at events or at the cottage. We'd discuss and argue in friendly fashion about this and that -- board and regional politics, local history, preservation and journalism. It was always a pleasure.
I didn't know she had died until yesterday, when I was volunteering at the cottage and Ben Kemp told me. He said Jeannie had taken lately to spending more time sitting on the porch there.
Fortunately I had time, when my shift ended, to go down the hill to Gurn Springs Cemetery on Ballard Road for the last service. I found the grave of legendary Grant Cottage caretaker Suye Narita Gambino, who died in 1984, and her husband Anthony. (They were the hosts when my girlfriend -- now wife -- Barbara and I first visited the cottage in 1983.) Suye was a good friend of Jeannie.
Then the family and other mourners arrived, including a couple of board members I knew. I joined in some prayers, and in scattering earth over the urn which contained Jeannie's ashes when it was placed below ground level.
A life well lived.
