Jay SJ Weston, born Sharon Jean Moore, passed away peacefully at home in Olympia, Washington, on May 21, 2012. She is survived by her husband, David (Olympia); daughter, Anne (Tumwater); father, Gale Moore (Rancho Palos Verdes, CA); mother-in-law, June Weston (Red Hook, NY); all three brothers, Doug Moore (Kauai, HI), Barry Moore (Bellingham, WA) and David Moore (Rancho Palos Verdes, CA); and a large extended family throughout the country.
Jay was born May 23, 1951, in Beatrice, Nebraska, lived for two years with her family at Guantanamo Bay Naval Station, Cuba, and thereafter grew up in southern California. Her parents, Gale Moore and Anne (Ingeborg) Kvamme, grew up in the Pacific Northwest where they each still have large extended families. Growing up, Jay enjoyed the southern California beaches and the many happy stays with family in Port Angeles and other parts of Washington. After graduating from Rolling Hills High School (California), Jay attended the University of Washington and the Evergreen State College, graduating in 1973, one of the first students to receive a degree at Evergreen. In 1977, she completed her Master’s degree from the University of Southern California.
Jay had a lifelong dedication to social justice, with a long career in public service. For over 30 years, she worked for various local, county, and state agencies that help provide for those in need. From 1980 to 2006 (when she retired), Jay served with the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services. She worked as a program manager and administrator in areas of department wide auditing and contracting and in children’s and public assistance programs. She received multiple outstanding employee awards and was regularly recognized for her dedication to persons being served. Throughout her life and career, Jay remained a true “Greener,” always passionately concerned for the rights and wellbeing of others.
On August 1, 1981, Jay married fellow social worker David Weston in Tacoma. Jay and David had a wonderful life together and celebrated their 30th anniversary in 2011. Their daughter, Anne, was born in Tacoma in December 1982. The family moved to Olympia in 1992 and lived for the past 20 years in a house that Jay helped design. Jay has always been exceptionally proud of her daughter Anne, an exceptional student in high school and college. Anne graduated from Grinnell College in 2005 and now teaches 4th grade in Yelm.
Jay loved the cool, wet Washington weather and the peace of the forest surrounding her home. She was an enthusiastic seamstress and made many of Anne’s earliest clothes. Shopping for others, and occasionally for herself, was a passion that she never lost.
Jay was loved by all who knew her and will be greatly missed by family and friends. She will be interred at the Odd Fellows Memorial Park, Tumwater.