August 29,1954-July 2, 2024
Port Townsend artist and Forks native, Jennifer Alice Blomgren died on July 2, 2024 from Alzheimer’s disease. She was born to Virginia (Huling) Blomgren and Joseph J. Blomgren in Forks, Washington on August 29, 1954. She attended school in Forks, graduating in 1972. After high school she attended Evergreen State and UW before completing Peninsula College’s nursing program, becoming a licensed registered nurse.
She married Richard Paine in 1978. They moved to Illinois where she worked as a nurse for several years, returning to Port Angeles where they later divorced.
She continued working as a nurse at Olympic Medical Center and later as a Home Health Nurse and traveling Foot Care Nurse. After becoming unable to continue nursing she developed a successful line of whimsical greeting cards, Twenty-Four Carrot Inc., doing all the illustrations and verses herself. For many years, they were distributed all over the US and Canada.
She was also the author of three successful children’s books in verse, including “Where Do I Sleep?” which was chosen for special recognition by PNW Booksellers Association in 2002 and is still being sold today. She also authored and illustrated a novella,” Alice’s Quilt”, based on the life of her paternal Aunt Patricia who died at a young age before she was able to complete her quilt. Jenny found the quilt squares and planned to finish the quilt her aunt started 90 years ago.
Jennifer lived in Port Townsend most of her adult life. She had a series of much beloved dogs who happily accompanied her on almost daily beach walks. She had a beautiful voice and sang with a band at venues around town. Her house was full of art and writing projects, sewing projects, cooking and baking, music and laughter, friends and parties.
Although she had no children of her own, she loved spending time with her nieces and nephews, and the children of friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents. She is survived by her loyal friend David Burroughs of Port Townsend, her two older sisters, Brenda (Ted) Connely and Jo Ann (Randy) Allen of Forks, nephews Norm Fraker and Rex (Alex) Allen, nieces Celia (Andrew) Formiller and Jessica (Ben) Ahola, great-nieces Mary Valiant, Molly (Wyatt) Burris and Haven Allen, great-nephews Eric Formiller and Kai Ahola. Her dog Bobby survives in the care of Brenda and Ted. In lieu of flowers, we suggest memorials to the Quillayute Valley Scholarship Fund, First Congregational Church, or Friends of Forks Animals.
A memorial service will be held August 24, 2024, at 1 pm at the Congregational Church in Forks. Lunch will follow.
