Jean Kyle, a resident of Ocean Shores, Wash., died Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2016, at Grays Harbor Community Hospital, two days after her 95th birthday.
She was born in Emerson, N.J., to William and Alice von Thaden. The family moved to South Orange, N.J., when she was 8, and she graduated from Columbia High School in Maplewood, N.J., in 1939. She then attended a business school and went on to a career as a secretary.
In 1943, she joined the WAVES, became a hospital corpsman and was stationed at the U.S. Naval Hospital at Camp Pendleton Marine Base in Oceanside, Calif. where she met and married Ralph Hartjoy, a medically discharged veteran. They had two children, Carol and Richard Hartjoy.
In 1945, they moved to Tacoma then to Sumner, Wash. Following her divorce from Ralph, she worked as a secretary at The Bank of California, Citizen’s State Bank in Sumner, then the International Department of the National Bank of Washington, which she enjoyed.
In 1977 she married Dr. Henry Kyle, built a home in Sumner, then in 1987 her son built a home for them in Ocean Shores. Also in 1987 they bought a cabin in Eagle City, Alaska, a bush community on the Yukon River, where she was active in the local historical society and museum. They spent five to six months there each year for over 20 years. She continued to return to Eagle, even driving there alone after Henry passed away in 2000, until 2008 when it became too much of an ordeal for her.
Jean remained active locally too, volunteering at PAWS of North Beach, Museum of the North Beach, and the Coastal Interpretive Center, and was often seen at the Ocean Shores Community Club working out in the pool or playing Bunco or other games there.
She is survived by her daughter Carol Hartjoy Frey of Woodinville, her son Richard A. Hartjoy and daughter-in-law Jean A. Hartjoy of Buckley, and a granddaughter Latrisha Hartjoy also of Buckley.
Any remembrances may be made to PAWS of North Beach or Museum of the North Beach. A celebration of her life is planned at a future date, still unknown.
