Jean Shy Farris Showed `Spicey,' Dramatic Flare Throughout Her Life

Paint Jean Shy Farris with flashes of brilliant colors.

She sang the part of Queenie in Showboat. She could grand slam any bridge opponent with gusto. And she created the wildest Easter egg hunts this side of the state.

Make no mistake about this, Mrs. Farris could not be ignored.

Even when she had fallen ill with lung cancer, her friends made sure she had splashes of color in her hospital room. They filled it with flowers, so many that the room looked like a garden.

Mrs. Farris died Wednesday of the illness. She was sensitive about her age, frequently joking that she was young and that was all people had to know.

She constantly shared her love for art and culture. She was a member of The Links, an African-American service organization for women. As the chair of the organization's art committee, she was always telling members what exhibit was in town and where the best arts shows were.

In her former job as a librarian at Einstein Middle School in the Shoreline district, she got the students to perform in plays and to learn about their ethnicity.

A native of Cleveland, Ohio, she met her husband, Jerome Farris, when she was a student at Spelman College in Atlanta, where she studied the arts. Farris, who is now a judge and a University of Washington regent, was attending Morehouse and dating her roommate. The two became close after they graduated.

"She was spicey and we would have great discussions about this or that," Farris said. "She was never boring. She was spicey, a good woman."

In Atlanta, she taught high school, even though she was barely older than her students. One student was Vernon Jordan, now in charge of President-elect Bill Clinton's transition team.

When they met again some time ago, Jordan teased her and called her "Miss Shy."

When she and her husband moved to Seattle, Mrs. Farris concentrated in the creative arts, singing in community theaters with her rich soprano voice.

She also made sure her daughters had the best costumes in town for Halloween or any school play. She would never settle for simple masks.

"My mother was dramatic in everything she did. When I was an angel one year for a school play, I ended up as Gabriel because my mother made me the most wonderful gown and wings. Every one else just had a sheet," JuliFarris said.

Every birthday or holiday had a touch of flashiness in the Farris household.

Birthdays were celebrated like national holidays: at Christmas, their home had three trees - each decorated with its own theme; at Easter, Mrs. Farris made sure her daughters found giant Easter bunnies outside their doors when they woke up.

"Even when I went away to college, she would send me a stuffed bunny during Easter and mints at Valentine's. That was how my mother celebrated holidays. She went all out," daughter Janelle said.

Mrs. Farris also was a good friend. She frequently befriended those new to the Seattle area and made sure they were not lonely.

"It was like she adopted all these people," said Juli. "I used to say she collected daughters. I had more sisters by non-birth."

A member of the American Bridge Association, Mrs. Farris played a mean game of bridge, and brought home several trophies. Even when she was ill, she played in tournaments and won.

Besides her husband and daughters, Mrs. Farris is survived by her mother, Anna Bell, and her brother, William.

At her request, no formal service is planned. A memorial fund has been set up in her name in care of Links Inc. 18223 N.E. 109th Street, Redmond, WA 98052.