Jeanne Gertrude Fahey Lisherness
December 25, 1920 ‘ December 15, 2004
Jeanne was born on December 25, 1920 in Sedro Woolley and was one of 8 children born to James and Olive Fahey. Her grandparents were early settlers in Sedro Woolley in the late 1800’s. Jeanne grew up here and married her high school sweetheart Norman Lisherness. They started their family in Lyman. After having their first 4 of 9 children they decided to find a home close to Norm’s work, as Chief of Police, in Sedro Woolley. After an extensive search for a house large enough, they found just what she had been looking for with room for lots more kids. After the move to Sedro Woolley she had 5 more children, one of which she lost at birth. They raised their children here, and in 1967 her husband Norman died leaving her with 4 children still at home.
At this time she began to take college classes in art and writing. She was extremely talented and creative, hand carving figures from wood and soap stone as well as sculpting, drawing, and painting. She wrote and published many stories and poems.
Her greatest talent was her ability to love and understand her children and she did just that until her death. She was very modest and was always positive and happy dispite her losses and set backs. She was a friend to everyone and was willing to listen to their problems, helping in any way she could.
She was involved in her church and alter society. Her faith was very strong and she showed it in her support and activism of the Pro-Life movement. She also became very involved with the anti-nuclear group here in Sedro Woolley in the mid 1970’s. She felt her crowning moment was when the then State Governor came to town and while protesting, got close enough to the Governor to hear her make a rude comment to her. She then felt like she was really making a difference and she did. Her next quest was to protect an old oak tree that was slated to be cut down on her parking strip. Her determination at a council meeting saved the tree and it still stands as a testimony to her drive to fight for what she believed in no matter whose feathers she ruffled.
She had a sharp wit and kept it right up to the time of her death. She was able to stay in her home her entire life, which was really important to her. She took life as it came. She loved her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren and loved spending time with all of them.
If you knew her then you would know that she would not have wanted you to grieve but to be happy for her as she was going to be with the rest of her family in heaven.
She is survived by her sons Tom and his wife Dorothy of Duvall, Patrick of Concrete, Joe of Mount Vernon, and daughters Maureen Dickinson of Running Springs, CA, Norma Lisherness of Mount Vernon, and Cathy Moroz and her husband Danny of Silverthorne, CO. Her grandchildren Shanna Lisherness of Seattle, Katie McNamara of Texas, Erik Herford of Texas, Dustin Lisherness of Sedro Woolley, Troy, Kris, Andy, and Leigh Dickinson of California, Karri Keller of Seattle, Erika Keizer of Camano Island, Heather Lisherness of Seattle, Kaleb Allinson of Lake Stevens, and 11 great grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her parents James and Olive Fahey, husband Norman, son James, daughters Theresa Mary and Cecila Ann, sisters Beth, Veronica, Peggy, Dorothy, and brother James.
Viewing will to be at Lemley’s on Saturday and Monday. The service will be on Tuesday, December 21st at 10am, at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church on Ferry Street in Sedro Woolley. Interment will follow at the Sedro-Woolley Union Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the Skagit County Food Bank. Arrangements and Services under the care of Lemley Chapel, Sedro-Woolley.
You are missed every day you were a great friend, tought me alot about working from you I learned how to prune trees ,wash cars ,pull weeds, and to mow your lawn, I started working for you when I was about 10 years old until I was about 28 I then moved to Wenatchee around July of 2004 it wasn’t until spring of 2005 I learned that you had passed I went by your house and your family was having a garage sale my heart broke to see all of your blue glass u collected, and all your collectibles, my heart was broken we became such good friends over the years, you were like the mom I never had, I will always love and miss you my friend…😍🥰😍🥰