From The Peninsula Daily News July 9, 2008:

Janice Carol Hurworth
May 3, 1939 - June 22, 2008

Janice Carol Hurworth passed away on June 22, 2008. She died peacefully at her home, surrounded by her family, after a short battle with cancer.

Jan was born in Tacoma on May 3, 1939, to Mark and Phyllis Whitman. She moved with her family to Port Angeles in 1952 and graduated from Port Angeles High School in 1957.

In high school, Jan was very active. She sang with the school singing group, played sports and was crowned Homecoming Queen her senior year.

Following high school, Jan attended the College of Puget Sound, where she became a member of the Delta Delta Delta sorority.

On June 13, 1959, she married Samuel G. Hurworth and moved her studies to the University of Washington, where she graduated in 1961 and received her Bachelor of Science from the University of Washington School of Nursing.

Following graduation, Sam received a commission in the Army Corps of Engineers. He was assigned to Frankfurt, Germany, where Jan joined him and began her nursing career as an obstetrics nurse in the U.S. Army Hospital where their first child, Rick, was born.

After completing their Army tour, they moved back to Port Angeles, shortly thereafter moving into their home of 44 years on Gasman Road.

Once settled in Port Angeles, Jan focused her energies on home and family. She helped where needed at school, attended every sporting event her children participated in, and kept home and surroundings in order.

Together, Jan and Sam founded Delhur Industries. Jan brought encouragement and commitment to building what is today a successful, Port Angeles-based firm, operating throughout the western United States.

She furnished behind-the-scenes help for Sam, including fulfilling community responsibilities and keeping the home front operating. It was a partnership based on love, mutual respect and shared values.

Jan joined the P.E.O. sisterhood as a young woman and over the years remained an active member. She held every major office in her local chapters and in 1997 was instrumental in forming Chapter IV P.E.O. in Port Angeles.

She appreciated the traditions of the organization and exemplified the ideals of sisterhood. Phone calls, thoughtful cards and freshly baked apple pies helped many a sister through tough times.

Jan loved her garden. Friends marveled at the park-like grounds she and Sam developed and maintained at their home.

It was not unusual to find Jan weeding, trimming or planting from early morning to evening. She shared her love of gardening by helping friends maintain their yards when health issues prevented them from taking care of their own.

In recent years, Jan enjoyed spending time in the mountains hiking with a group of friends. They would be gone for weeks at a time on treks locally and as far away as Italy.

Her friends maintain that energetic, fast-paced Jan always reached the top of the mountain first.

Her most precious moments however, were spent with her four beloved grandchildren. She would travel wherever they were living — Oregon, California, Colorado, Delaware, New York, Ohio — to be there for regular visits, relocations, birthdays and holidays.

Jan is survived by husband Sam; son Rick (Jill) of Durango, Colorado; daughter Brenda Cornett (Sean) of Toledo, Ohio; and beloved grandsons Jake and Al of Durango, Colorado, and Caden and Chase of Toledo, Ohio.

Also surviving are brothers Frank Whitman (Mimi) of Bainbridge Island, Washington, and Ralph Whitman (Jan) of Lake Stevens, Washington; and sister Laurie Beth Leaverton (Karl) of Bellevue, Washington.

A Celebration of Jan’s life was held at her home in Port Angeles July 12, 2008, with guests in picnic attire.

The family has been deeply touched by the compassion of the people involved with the Volunteer Hospice of Clallam County.

Contributions were made in Jan’s name by those who loved her to the Volunteer Hospice of Clallam County, P.O. Box 2014, Port Angeles, WA 98362, so that they may continue their important work.