Janice L Harlow age 74 passed away January 26, 2018 at home in Pasco Washington.  Jan was born in Tucson, Arizona February 28, 1943 to Gloria and Eldon Heim.  She moved to Richland Washington at age 2 with her mother and father.  Early childhood was spent exploring the Richland neighborhoods with her sister and friends.  She attended Richland Elementary schools and was a high academic achiever.  She started playing the cello as a fifth grader in the Jason Lee orchestra and continued playing throughout her life.  She also enjoyed playing the piano and performed in dance companies.  She had a love for her cats and was an avid reader as well as having fun riding horses on and off the family pasture on Van Giesen Blvd.  She continued her education at Columbia High School and graduated in 1961.  After graduating from high school she attended Washington State University where she graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology in 1965.  She met her future husband Don Harlow during college on a blind date and after graduating was married in 1965 at Christ the King church in Richland.

After marriage they made their home in Richland and Kennewick where they raised three children, Erika, Greg and Angela. During this time Jan attended Central Washington University and graduated with a Master of Science degree with a Specialization in Counseling Psychology in 1983.  She began working in all of the Tri-Cities and outlying school districts utilizing her degrees.  Jan’s passion was working with disabled children where she was especially astute at applying her academic expertise to real world problem solving.

She continued her education by attending Seattle University, graduating in 1994 with a Doctoral degree in Education specializing in Educational Leadership.  Jan and Don moved to Maryland in 1996 where she worked for the Department of Education until they moved back to the Tri-Cities in 2002.  She then worked with Tri-Cities school districts in special education management.  She also worked as a Child Development Specialist with Head Start.  During her time pursuing her degrees and career she continued her love of books, playing the cello with the Mid-Columbia Symphony, singing with the Master Singers of the Tri-Cities in the Messiah as well as continuing to raise the family by providing loving guidance and thoughtful insight.

Jan loved to travel with her husband and saw many different places locally, nationally, and internationally.  She was very adventurous in her travel with trips including hot air balloon rides, camel and elephant rides, and open door helicopter tours one of which was over an active volcano in Hawaii.

Jan was also involved in the National Educational Association, the Benton Franklin Dispute Resolution Center, Soroptimist International Volunteer Association for women of all ages, and Women helping Women Tri-Cities.

Jan is survived by her husband Don Harlow, their 3 children Erika (Mark), Greg (Leslie) and Angela (Carlo) and 7 grandchildren Anna, Tristan, Sarah, Gianni, Khloé, Caprice and Paige; in addition to her sister Andrea.

Memorial services for Jan will be held at 1:00 pm on Sunday, February 4, 2018 at Einan’s at Sunset Chapel 915 Bypass Highway, Richland. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the American Cancer Society at www.cancer.org