Obituary

Elizabeth “Jeanette” Deaton, age 83, passed away peacefully in her sleep at home in Bellingham, Washington on September 14, 2020.

Jeanette was born on January 4th, 1937 in Queen City, Texas to Velma Jean (Mauldin) Welch and John Robert Welch. In 1956 she married Odell Deaton in Odessa, Texas. Together they raised 3 children. Odell worked as a roughneck, and in 1969 they moved to Bellingham so he could be closer to the Alaskan oil fields. Even out west, Jeanette never lost touch with her southern roots. This was most evident in the huge southern meals she would cook for family.

Jeanette loved her family most and cherished time spent with her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren She positively beamed when family gathered around her table to eat, play games, and listen to Jeanette tell a story or three. Jeanette loved to work in her garden and was always up for a road trip or shopping spree.

For a time, Jeanette managed the best hamburger restaurant in Bellingham, Sornbergers! But, most of her working life was spent working in Environmental Services at St. Joseph’s Hospital. Jeanette retired as the Team Lead from St. Joe’s in 2002, dedicating her retirement years to raising her great-grandson Sonny, caring for her husband Odell, and loving all her family.

She is survived by her husband of 64 years Odell, sisters Bobbye Whidden and Nancy Tribbey, children Melanie and Cindy, grandchildren Lisa, Brian, Madeline, Emily “Jaynie”, Nicholas, and Joshua, and great grandchildren Sonny, Abby, Craig, Jayda, and Noah.

Jeanette was preceded in death by her parents John Robert Welch 1942 and Velma Jean (Mauldin) Welch 1947, brother Billy Robert Welch 1932, sisters Doris Yvonne (Welch) Graham 1999, Mary Helen Welch-Hodges 2006, and her precious son Randy “the Bear” Deaton 1999.

Jeanette’s final resting place is at Bayview Cemetery in Bellingham.