Jeanne Marie Barnum

Jeanne Marie Barnum (Hewes) of Fall City, Washington, passed away peacefully at her home on Wednesday, June 10, 2026 after a courageous year long battle with peritoneal cancer. She was 71 years of age. Jeanne was born on July 5, 1954, in Colville, WA. She was the daughter of Ralph and Rita Hewes. Her rural upbringing in a large family in Colville instilled in her a deep sense of duty, discipline, and self-reliance. She attended Saint Mary’s Catholic school, in Chewelah, WA for elementary and middle years. Then went on to Holy Names Academy in Spokane for high school. She continued her education at Gonzaga University and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry in 1976. She later studied at Seattle University working on a Masters degree in computer science. Following her studies at Gonzaga, Jeanne made her way to the greater Seattle area in 1978, settling in Bellevue, WA. 

The following year in August of 1979, Jeanne’s roommate brought her to a company picnic with the intention of introducing her to her boyfriend’s roommate, Mark Barnum. He turned out to be the love of her life and the rest is history. They married on August 20, 1983, at St. Judes Church in Redmond, WA. Together Mark and Jeanne made their home in Fall City, WA, where Jeanne would spend the rest of her life deeply woven into the fabric of her community. Jeanne’s professional career began in Spokane, WA, working with punch cards and early data processing systems at Sacred Heart Hospital. Her next job was at NCR in Spokane which then led to her move to the Seattle area. 

Her natural aptitude for bridging the gap between people and technology led to a distinguished career as a data architect, working across a range of contracting engagements. Over the years she lent her expertise to notable organizations including Oracle, PACCAR, and Microsoft, among others, earning a reputation as a skilled and trusted professional throughout the technology sector. A woman of deep faith, Jeanne was a devoted member of St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Carnation for many years. She was an active member of her local chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution and was a tireless advocate for individual liberty and constitutional principles, causes she held close to her heart. 

Her patriotism ran deep; Jeanne was related to Joseph Hewes, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, and she carried that legacy with great pride, remaining a dedicated student of the Founding Fathers and the Constitution throughout her life. She was a beloved and active presence in the Fall City community, always working on behalf of her neighbors. Jeanne’s passions were as varied as they were genuine. These included her love of travel and exploration of new places. She and Mark enjoyed trips to Europe and Mexico as well as around the United States. Health and wellness were central to her life, and she devoted years of careful research to the relationship between nutrition, gut health, and mental well being, becoming a seasoned and knowledgeable voice on the subject. She brought that same intentionality to her many food related pursuits, including gardening, mycology, harvesting maple syrup, food preservation, and of course the art of crafting the perfect espresso (she loved her coffee). 

She was known among friends and family for her creation of “Jeanne’s Jellies” a variety of delicious jams and jellies made from locally foraged fruits. The outdoors called to her always. She spent many cherished summers camping with Mark and family along the Columbia River in NE Washington, swimming, fishing, and water skiing. Introduced to fishing by her father in childhood, she carried a passion for it and spent countless hours on lakes and rivers in Alaska, Idaho, and Washington. She remained a vigorous and disciplined athlete throughout her life, regularly hiking, cycling, and lifting weights, often alongside family and friends. The family remembers Jeanne as a woman of extraordinary strength and quiet resolve. Measured and studious, with a core discipline forged in her rural upbringing. She approached every commitment with unwavering dedication and passion. 

When Jeanne gave her word, mountains would move before she let anyone down. She was always available to listen, always willing to help, and never shy about offering the honest, unfiltered counsel that those who loved her came to rely upon. Everything she did was in service of her family, for whom she was an unending source of strength. She loved them more than anything, and it showed in every action she took. Jeanne was preceded in death by her parents. She is survived by her husband of 42 years, Mark Barnum, their children Douglas Barnum, Scott Barnum and his wife Amanda Brittain, Sandra Barnum, Keith Barnum and his wife Kiara Zaverdinos and their daughter Sophia Barnum; siblings William Hewes and wife Launa, Fred Hewes, David Hewes, Katie Marabello (Hewes) and husband Thomas, Margie Hewes and husband Robert Bahlman; Elizabeth Hewes plus many nieces and nephews. The family will hold a memorial service on August 15th, 2026, at the Fall City Cemetery followed by a Celebration of Life at their home in Fall City