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Obituaries
3/30/2015 3:33:57 PM

Linda Laurel Garrett
Nov. 26, 1940, to March 17, 2015

Linda Laurel (Fleischauer) Garrett was born Nov. 26, 1940, in Lewiston, Idaho. She was the only child of two young aspiring musicians, Charles Fleischauer and Evangeline Fite. The family moved to Spokane where Linda's favorite memory was spending time with her father fishing or attending circuses. She attended Havermale Junior High and North Central High School where she was active in many clubs and very popular with her warm smile, beautiful looks and kind personality. 

Linda worked hard in the classroom and attended Washington State University on a chemistry scholarship from Alcoa. On a college break, while working as a waitress at the Ridpath Hotel, she met and later married Dean Williams. The couple had three children, Jason, Leslie and Todd. Linda raised her kids in the Spokane and Liberty Lake areas. 

Upon the early death of her father, Linda inherited his auto dealer supplies business in 1980. She became popular with the dealers, as they always trusted her judgment as to just the right color of pennants to fly over their car lots. Once the kids were raised, Linda's favorite hobby was to travel the world, especially Europe. Never a fan of the new, shiny and impersonal, she loved all things historical, charming and quaint.

Linda faced exceptional challenges due to the premature death of both her parents, her painful scoliosis and later her lung disease. It was heartbreaking for those close to her to see such a good-hearted person endure so much. But her resilience and courage inspired us. She laughed. She loved. She remained so, so pretty through all the years. She was a true gourmet cook and, though you would never know from her petite frame, she loved to eat. She sewed beautiful clothes, and her tasteful restoration of her 1900-era Liberty Lake home made it a landmark and signature sanctuary. 

Linda was a thoughtful person, a great listener and a deep thinker. Her expressions were vivid! When she loved something, she loved it. When she didn't … well, sometimes you would hear about that too. But the enduring memories are of her warm smile, her hearty laughter, the full attention she paid when you spoke with her, her thoughtful gift-giving, and her love of her children and grandchildren. 

Linda's survivors are Jason (Lydja) Williams of Redmond; Leslie (Jay) Filer of Green Bluff; and Todd (Michele) Williams of Green Bluff. Her precious grandchildren (all grandsons) are Ian Williams, Josh Williams, Taylor Williams, Travis Schaaf, Cody Schaaf, Jake Filer, Sam Filer, Craig Williams and Max Williams. Services were held March 26 at the Green Bluff United Methodist Church. Donations in her honor can be sent to the American Lung Society, www.lung.org/donate.

Jennifer "Shea" Wills
Dec. 30, 1972, to Feb. 19, 2015

Jennifer "Shea" Wills, beautiful wife, mother, daughter and lifelong resident of Liberty Lake, died unexpectedly on Feb. 19, 2015, at the age of 42 at her home.

Shea was born in Spokane on Dec. 30, 1972.  She spent many years competing in gymnastics when she was younger, lettering in gymnastics at Greenacres Junior High School, and took third in state competition with Spokane Elite Gymnastics in 1985. She graduated from Mead High School in 1991. 

Shea lived in Vancouver, Wash., for a brief period after high school, then moved back to Liberty Lake.  Shortly thereafter, she started seeing the "boy next door" and long-time Liberty Lake resident, Marcus Wesche.  Shea graduated from ITT Technical Institute in 2002 with a degree in Information Technology and received highest honors with a perfect 4.0 GPA.  She worked as a producer/director for Fox 28 making commercials and promotional videos. 

On Aug. 28, 2004, Shea and Marcus married on the inlet island at Liberty Lake.  On June 18, 2005, their daughter Jaelyn Shannon was born, and on Feb. 14, 2006, Marcus officially adopted Shea's son Bailey, making their family complete.

An excellent and enthusiastic water- and snow-skier, Shea enjoyed camping and backpacking at Priest Lake, sunbathing at Liberty Lake with her friends, and watching USC games with her father and grandfather.  She was an avid reader and loved shopping with her daughter.  Shea was highly involved in the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation in Spokane, sitting on the board for seven years and helping to organize the annual Bailey's Brigade car show to raise money for diabetes research. She returned to school with intentions of studying nursing and received her associate's degree from Spokane Community College in 2013.

Shea was a motivated spouse and mother and helped her husband Marcus with his business early on. She was passionate as a caretaker of other people, and also loved her pets as family. 

She loved gardening and cared for her neighbor Marilyn, who had complications of a stroke, for the last several years. She became a great cook and loved to try new recipes. Shea lived life on her terms, but became interested in finding her spiritual side over the last several months of her life.  

Shea is survived by her deeply saddened family - her husband Marcus Wesche and their children Bailey Wills (15) and Jaelyn Wesche (9); parents Robert and Jackie Wills; her grandmother June Wills, all of Liberty Lake; as well as her brother Tralen Doler of New York City. Also grieving this great loss are her sister-in-law, Shannon Wesche of Tucson, Ariz., and brother- and sister-in-law, Daniel and Maureen Wesche of Flagstaff, Ariz., and her father-in-law Dr. David Wesche of Liberty Lake; numerous aunts and uncles, many nieces and nephews, and  half- and step-brothers and sisters.  Shea was preceded in death by two step-brothers Scott and Don Harkins, her beloved stepfather Bob Doler, her mother-in-law Jan Wesche, and her grandfather Robert Wills, Sr.

A celebration of life was held Feb. 28 at Saint Joseph Catholic Church. Donations can be made in Shea's honor to JDRF. 

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