Jan Elspeth Gerard of Duvall, WA passed away at age 60 in Bellevue, WA after a long battle with cancer.
Jan, born to Clark and Mae Darst, in Snoqualmie, WA, was raised in Issaquah, WA and graduated from Issaquah High School in 1971. In 1972, Jan married her husband, Alan Gerard. After spending their early years together in Kirkland, having their daughters Ara and Elle, they found the perfect place to finish raising their family and for Jan to enjoy her true passion, horses.
In 1987, they moved the family to Duvall, WA and to the 20 acres of farmland that became Kaelie's Farm, a small piece of heaven for horses and their riders.
Jan spent the next 25 years teaching others everything she knew about horses, life and love. Jan's love for animals only grew as Kaelie's Farm matured from horse lovers, to include a wide array of animals and their owners.
In 2007, Jan was diagnosed with her second occurrence of cancer and began an aggressive treatment program. By 2009, the year of her granddaughter, Evalyn Faith's, birth, Jan was in remission and was enjoying the full time duties of being a Safeway Front End Manager, Farm owner, wife, mother and grandmother.
By mid 2012, the cancer had returned and surgery was not able to contain it. Still, Jan fought for her family, her friends and her animals. Using all of her strength, Jan's fight carried her through the year's end.
Jan's strength was always what set her apart from the status quo. Her fierce devotion to her friends and family was only amplified as her cancer returned. Even in her final days, visits from family, to friends, her barn and her fields were what she lived for.
Jan is survived by her Husband, Alan; Mother, Mae; Sisters, Leslie and Krista; Daughters, Ara (Ron) and Elle (Jimmer); Granddaughter, Evalyn; and her extended family of nieces, nephews and their children. She also leaves behind her many friends and people she inspired, who were sons and daughters to her as well. Jan was preceded in death by her Father, Clark.
Celebration of Life
A celebration of life will be held at Vasa Park Ballroom on February 10th, 2013 at 1pm.
Chosing Jan's check stand has been part of my daily ritual at Safeway for years. I could always count an a daily dose of good cheer, empathy and wisdom. Jan's generosity extended beyond that: she would come to our house and provide precious advice on fixing the faults with our horse (and its owners!). Jan's spirit and courage is contagious. I am thankful for that. My heartfelt condolences to the family in their time of bereavement.
An absolutely wonderful woman has left us to only our memories of her smile, her laughter, her twinkly-eyed humor, her love of animals, her spark. We were so blessed to have known her, and so strong a presence was she that we will never forget her.
Our love to the family and may God Bless you each day with loving memories of Jan. It was 45 years ago that i met Jan at the Darst Christmas gathering, she never changed from that moment..always a smile and caring for others.
I had only met Jan once, at Ara and Ron's wedding. Right from the start you could tell that she was a bright cheerful person and full of love. I can definitely see why her daughter Ara turned out so wonderful. Your whole family is in my thoughts and prayers.
I miss Jan's twinkling smile at the Safeway checkout stand. Once, at a local barn, I had a good talk with her about my gaited horse. I didn't know her well, but she seemed to be at once gentle and tough, and certainly courageous.
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