Janet Marie “Jan” Litzinger Johnston, 59

Janet Marie Litzinger Johnston, 59, of Chattaroy, Wash., passed away May 22, 2014, after a brief but valiant fight against cancer. 

Jan was born and raised in Yakima, Wash., on March 27, 1955. After graduating in 1973 from Carrol High School in Yakima, Jan attended Washington State University. While attending WSU, Jan met the love of her life, Jere Johnston. They married on August 23, 1975. Jan and Jere were happily married for 38 years, and had two children, Jason and Daniel. During their marriage they also helped raise, and forever changed the life of, Daniel Clark, of Yakima. 

Jan’s accomplishments in life were truly remarkable. She obtained two B.A. degrees, a master’s degree, and the first Auditory/Verbal certification in Speech Pathology in the Inland Northwest. Jan was one of the most respected and accomplished Speech Pathologists in the Inland Northwest. Her hard work and dedication to helping others has positively enriched the lives of countless children, parents, and families. 

Jan was one of the founders of the Spokane H.O.P.E School for pre-school hearing impaired children. She established the Spokane Speech Language Pathology, PLLC, where she treated and helped hundreds of younger children with speech and hearing therapies. The cards and letters from families and colleagues really tug at our heart strings, and are a true testament of Jan’s dedication to her profession. “Hon,” you are oh, so missed, by many. 

Jan’s lifelong passion was horses. Jan was one of the founders of Suncrest Trailer Blazers, a 4-H Leader for years, Suncrest Saddle Club and loved to ride horses. She bought her first horse at age 13 when her parents said if she earned enough money to buy a horse, she could get one. That became family folklore, and she is riding forever.

Jan was preceded in death by her mother, Henri Etta “Hank” Litzinger. 

Jan is survived by her husband, Jere; her father, Joseph Raymond Litzinger, of Yakima, Wash., sisters: Margaret Koenig, of Yakima, Wash., and Delores Ryan, Nine Mile Falls, Wash., brothers: Joseph Litzinger, Nine Mile Falls, Wash., and Mark Litzinger, Mukilteo, Wash., and their spouses; son, Jason, of Cheney, Wash., and son and daughter-in-law, Daniel and Raynee, of Colbert, Wash. Jan had numerous nieces and nephews, and other family and friends.

The funeral service will be held at 11 a.m., on Friday, June 6, at the Sunset Chapel, Fairmount Memorial Park, 5200 W. Wellesley Ave., Spokane, Wash. Please send all donations in the name of “Jan” to the Spokane H.O.P.E School.