Shirley Margaret Jaccard

Shirley Margaret Jaccard (née Jones), fondly known as "Winkie," passed away at the age of 100 on December 16, 2023, in Shelton, Washington - the same town where she first graced the world on September 17, 1923.

Always fiercely determined to meet her goals, Winkie was the first in her family to graduate from college, earning a BA in Business from WSU in 1941. She worked at the Bremerton shipyard during WWII and then married Gilbert Jaccard in 1947. They built a home in Bellevue and raised four children together until Gilbert's unexpected death in 1963.

Winkie went back to college and began her 30-year career as a first-grade teacher. She used her summers to travel the world with family and friends, visiting all continents. Winkie taught school in Australia for a year and studied schools in China for a summer. She was an UMVIM volunteer in DRCongo and swam with the penguins' in Antartica. And, to share her love of travel, she took each of her children and grandchildren on a unique international adventure that inspired and transformed us all.

Winkie loved the outdoors. She hiked, backpacked, and skied but most of all she loved the water. Winkie taught swimming in Lake Sammamish for many summers and was passionate about water safety. She helped crew on her brother's sailboat from Shelton to Hawaii. Winkie water skied at 75 and took her last swim in the chilly Puget Sound, at the age of 99.

Winkie is survived by her four children, Julie Wood (Russ), Walter Jaccard (Bonni), Gilbert Jaccard and Genie Fairhart (Mark), eight grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren who, along with countless friends and family, will remember Shirley for her devotion to family, her boundless energy, and the subtle humor she shared with those around her.

The family invites those who knew Shirley to join in a celebration of her life, on May 4, 2024, at 1:00 p.m. at St. Peters United Methodist Church, 17222 NE 8th, Bellevue, WA 98008.

It will be a time to reflect on the joy she brought to our lives and the enduring marks she left on our hearts.