Janet Martin Gadsby died peacefully and quietly at home in Portland. She was born in the picturesque hamlet of Leavenworth, Washington, on the eastern slopes of the Cascades to Maida Witt Martin and William J. Martin. In 1943, she graduated from Wenatchee High School and was crowned Apple Blossom Festival Princess with her twin sister Vivian. They attended their mother's alma mater, Washington State University, and Janet joined the Kappa Alpha Theta sorority.
After the war, Janet and Vivian came to Portland at the invitation of their older sister, Virginia. Janet held several jobs including an administrative position at the Veteran's Hospital. She married Walter Gadsby, Jr. in 1949. They raised three daughters: Anna, Ellen, and Elizabeth. In the early years Janet was active in the Junior League of Portland and was a dedicated room mother and scout leader. From 1965-1968 the family lived in Tokyo and traveled extensively in Southeast Asia, a happy and invigorating period in Janet's life that opened many doors of cultural interest for her.
After returning to Portland, Janet joined the Portland Garden Club and followed her interests in flower arranging and native plants. She continued to study Japanese and also French. She took piano lessons, listened to jazz, and held season tickets to the Oregon Symphony for decades. She was a member of the Portland Art Museum and appreciated contemporary art, especially by local artists. She loved dancing and kept fit swimming, walking in the Hoyt Arboretum, and with aerobics classes.
Janet loved the mountains and enjoyed skiing, hiking, and natural history; she and Walter climbed Mt. Hood more than once in their younger years. She completed numerous field study trips across Oregon, and carefully documented the wildflowers, animals, and birds she observed and learned about. In the late 1980s, Janet became active in regional conservation issues, most notably campaigns to protect the Mt. Hood National Forest and, later, to preserve Neawanna Point in Clatsop County. Her excellent writing and language skills served these causes well.
In 1984, Janet undertook an Outward Bound course on the Rogue River. In 1989 she traveled to Nepal to join a women's trek up the Annapurna Valley to over 12,000 feet: at 64, she was the oldest member of the group, and the only one to reach their goal. In 1995, at nearly 70, Janet climbed Mount St. Helens to meet eligibility requirements and proudly joined the Mazamas. Walter accompanied her on numerous natural history trips including one to Alaska, which they enjoyed tremendously. Janet found beauty in all natural things, whether grand or small: she was able to derive joy from a bright autumn leaf or fallen feather.
Janet's twin sister, Vivian Martin; sister, Virginia McCutcheon Haynes; and brother, George Martin preceded her in death. Her husband, Walter; daughters; four grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and nieces and nephews survive her, and will strive to carry her gracious spirit always.
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