Janice Elaine Clarke Merriman

Jan Elaine Clarke Merriman was born on December 3, 1950 and passed away May 25th, 2025. Jan grew up in Peshastin on her parent’s orchard. She graduated at the head of her class from Peshastin High School. She attended Whitman College in Walla Walla, before transferring to WSU where she graduated in 1973, once again at the head of her class, with a degree in Horticulture. Jan received several awards as a student there. It was at WSU that she met Doug, who became her lifelong companion. Doug and Jan married in 1973 and headed to San Jose, California to work in the nursery business raising a variety of plants! In 1978, they returned to Central Washington, where they decided to raise tree fruit! After a lengthy downturn in the fruit industry, Jan took her love of plants to a new level, Jan’s Hanging Gardens, which is still in business today! Jan was a woman who worked tirelessly in many arenas. She became a member of the Orondo School Board, where she served for 35 years. During her tenure there, a new school was built for Orondo students! Jan loved being a mom and kept her children busy with many activities—from Suzuki violin to Short Shakespeareans. She used her skill as a seamstress to make many of the costumes. Outdoor activities with the family involved cross-country skiing, downhill skiing, and ice skating; and they enjoyed hiking around the foothills in Leavenworth and Lake Wenatchee. Jan was an accomplished pianist as well; she often served as an accompanist. Jan had a passion for dogs. She helped with the planning stages for a new Kennel Club in East Wenatchee where she worked on the design and landscaping. She raised sixteen beagles, earning degrees for them in tracking, confirmation, and agility! Jan was one of the first in this area to recognize the threat of losing valuable farmland to developers. Her experience in San Jose, California, made her recognize the fact that valuable farmland was being paved over with parking lots and developments! Her foresight and commitment to preserving her farmland enabled her to utilize open space laws here in Orondo and continue her legacy in agriculture for generations to come! She is survived by her husband, Doug Merriman, her 2 children, son Colin, (wife Alisha), daughter Erin. (husband Matthew Gregg) and 6 grandchildren, Carley, Fiona, Orin, Carson, Hudson, and Flora. The family would like to thank the Staff at Caring Cottage and Hospice in Wenatchee for their loving care. Jan had many skills and talents, but most of all, she was an amazing flower lady. She has left us a legacy and will miss her! A Celebration of Life for Jan will be held at the Chelan County Expo Center in Cashmere on June 26th at 2 PM. Arrangements by Jones & Jones - Betts Funeral Home.

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Janice Elaine Clarke Merriman

December 3, 1950 - May 25, 2025