Jean Dallas

Jean Spence Dallas (Boyd) 7/19/37-5/25/2022, age 84.

If you were ever at the mall and a beautiful white-haired woman stopped you to share “her story” that would have been Jean Spence Dallas (Boyd). In her beautiful and poetic Scottish voice, she would have filled you in on her unique life; one she thought most would enjoy hearing. Her heart of gold felt that every person had that same spirit about them if they only had a chance to tell their story. And, she was right.

She started her life in a little fishing town of Dysart, Scotland on July 19, 1937. There she grew up helping raise her three siblings (Marian (Allan) Roy, John Boyd, Anne Boyd) with her now deceased father (John Boyd), after her mother (Isabella Watson) passed away when she was just a child. Her natural gifts of writing, singing, and communication, led her toward a secretarial career where she used her highly specialized skill of shorthand to secure a variety of administrative assistant positions. Most of her stories began when her previously deceased love of her life, Ian M. Dallas, whisked her away in fairy tale fashion to start a family in Africa. Using her charm and outstanding secretarial skills, she quickly found employment in Tanzania at the infamous Williamson Diamond Mines. Never one to sit idle, it was here where her beloved two sons, Gordon B. Dallas (Deborah), and Andrew J. Dallas (Kim) were born.

Although motherhood kept her busy with her adored sons, her fairy tale life continued as she enjoyed a country club lifestyle where she refined her ability to strike up a conversation with anyone, be it the wait staff or the president of the company. For most who had the opportunity to share a conversation, they undoubtedly may have said to themselves afterwards, “Who was that beautiful woman with the lovely accent?”

Her stories didn’t stop in Tanzania. She arrived in America on Pearl Harbor Day, 1969, and settled into learning the American way of life. As many new immigrants, she was overwhelmed with the Southern California lifestyle in the 1960s. Yet, it didn’t stop her from trying golf with her husband and sons, learning how to drive after her first granddaughter (Lindsay Behl (Mark)) was born, or fly on her own after her next two grandchildren were born (Ian Dallas, Meagan Rollwitz (Ian)). With her new found confidence, she explored the world on her own, and this meant building more relationships as a secretary at Vlasic Foods and Campbell Soup company in the City of Industry, California.

After retirement, Jean and her husband filled their finals days in Liberty Lake, Washington enjoying gardening, walking, knitting, baking, and traveling together as well as helping raise their last granddaughter, Kathryn Dallas. When she wasn’t taking care of her family’s immediate needs, she could be found wearing a St. Andrew’s golf cap and striking up a conversation with the food sample ladies at Costco, the servers at Red Robin, or the owners of her favorite local restaurants. They knew her story, and she enjoyed hearing theirs.

Jean always said she felt blessed and had such a wonderful family both in the United States and back home in Scotland. To keep those connections strong, she made sure those closest to her enjoyed her signature carrot cake, infamous shortbread, or yearly calendars. If that wasn’t enough, you may have been lucky enough to hear her sing classic Christian hymns, Scottish ballads, or lullabies. It was then that time stood still as her naturally pitch perfect voice filled the room with serenity.  Even her great-grandchildren, Graysen, Avery, and Cameron were lucky enough to hear the voice that had comforted two previous generations. Those that were closest to her know she was an original, and one whom will be terribly missed. A story to be remembered by all.  To leave condolences for the family, please visit Jean's Tribute Wall.