On Thursday, August 18, 2022, Janice Lou Purdy, a beloved wife, mother, aunt, grandmother and friend, passed away peacefully at Hospice House South in Spokane Washington. She was 81 years young. Janice was born to Charley W. and Vera E. Bale on January 16, 1941, in Wapato Washington. Her older brother, Kennard C. Bale was excited about his new sibling. The family of 4 moved frequently for many years, before moving to 5-Mile Prairie in 1956. It was on 5-Mile Prairie that Janice would meet her future husband, Frank John Ziegwied. Janice graduated from Mead High School in 1959. Frank and Janice married in 1962 in Spokane. Their first son, John Frank Ziegwied was born in 1963. Michael Charles Ziegwied was born in 1965 and their only daughter, Susan Alice Ziegwied was born in 1967. With their family complete, the family purchased an 80-acre farm and moved to Wild Rose Prairie that same year. While Frank worked rotating shifts at Kaiser Mead, Janice worked hard on the farm, as well as being a great mother to their 3 children. Janice was an excellent wife, mother, friend, seamstress, cook, gardener, and farmer. Janice lost her first love, Frank Ziegwied to cancer after 27 years of marriage. She was blessed to find a helpmate and best friend in Ray W. Purdy. Ray and Janice married in 1990, together they worked the newly expanded 160-acre farm. Janice worked fulltime at Dr. Edgar Figueroa’s office in Deer Park for 10 years, before retiring in 2003.
Janice was a community advocate for the Deer Park area. Janice volunteered with the Greenhouse Food Bank and Resource Center for many years. She was the founding member of the North Country Organic Gardeners club. She volunteered for many years with the Deer Park Fair. Janice was the out-of-the-box thinker who brought the idea of moving the Deer Park Fair to Clayton to the table. The Deer Park Fair Association and the Clayton Fair Association were near and dear to her heart. The Clayton Farmers Market was her passion as well. Janice served many years on the Stevens County Noxious Weed Board.
Janice made friends wherever she went. A quick trip to town often became a several hour trip due to her many friends she would find along the way. She will be missed by everyone who knew her.
Janice is survived by her husband, Ray Purdy, at the home; Her children: John Ziegwied (Christine) of Simi Valley California, Mike Ziegwied of Clayton Washington and Susan Ziegwied of Clayton Washington; Her grandchildren: Omar Khater of Cheney Washington, Kylie Ziegwied of Bonners Ferry Idaho, Lindsey Ziegwied of Bonners Ferry Idaho, Joey Sims (Kimmy) of Spokane Valley Washington and Ashley Roseberry (Jesse) of Bonners Ferry Idaho.
A Celebration of Life service will be held at the Deer Park Seventh Day Adventist Church in Deer Park on September 25, 2022 at 2pm. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Greenhouse Food Bank and Resource Center at greenhousedp.com or the Clayton Community Fair at claytoncommunityfair.com or to the charity of your choice.
