In Loving Memory

Nancy Lee Shaw Richardson

Nancy Lee Shaw Richardson was born in Spokane on Jan 21, 1938, to Robert E Shaw and Evelyn E Shaw of Springdale, Washington. Nancy joined an older sister, Laurel Rae, on the family dairy on Lyons Hill, just outside Springdale. When they use the phrase, "working farm", it means everybody works and Nancy's earliest job was carrying the dustpan. She attended school in Springdale and worked on the dairy. She was active in 4-H and became a proficient cow handler and an accomplished seamstress and was known for her work ethic and common sense. She was a cheerleader and a friend maker, and a perfect big sister to Teresa and brother, Jonathan. In 1955, the family relocated to Chewelah and Nancy made more new friends and graduated from Jenkins High in 1956.

One close friend she had in Springdale was a skinny boy named Jerry Wayne Richardson and they became even closer on June 15, 1957 when they wed at the old Congregational church in Chewelah. After that day, you seldom said one's name without the other. It was either Nancy and Jerry, or Jerry and Nancy. They spent the next 63 years as a team. Jerry worked as an agent for Northwest Airlines and Nancy worked in the insurance industry. She said she handled everything but claims and worked mostly in commercial lines. They had no children of their own, but all the nieces and nephews and the neighborhood kids knew they were welcome at the Richardson house. Many gallons of boat gas were burned teaching kids to water ski on Long Lake.

They logged countless hours together on boats, RV's, snowmobiles, and ATV's. When they were not at work or recreating, they were keeping their home and property in pristine condition or hosting yet another family or neighborhood get together. The house they built on Shore Road on Lake Spokane was one of the original homes of what would grow into the thriving community of Suncrest. After 25 years with shorefront property, the taxes got higher and the legs got weaker and they moved to their new home on Greenfield. Both the Shore Road house and the Greenfield house were perfect for entertaining the family and neighbors and they were exceptional hosts.

On December 31, 2020, after almost 64 years of marriage, Jerry passed away. It opened a new phase for Nancy as she moved to Colville where she lived with her brother and sister-in-law, Jon and Liz Shaw. Nancy was always positive, proactive and personable. She loved to tidy and keep her area as nice as possible. I guess she never stopped carrying that dustpan! Gardening, bird feeding and dog walking became a daily routine. She followed the news passionately and was always up on current events. She enjoyed audio books and, especially when her grand nephews, Jack and Alex Shaw would read novels to her. Nancy passed away, November 20 in the comfort of her Colville home. May she rest in peace. In heaven, there is no dust.