Locals in the Limelight- Ed and Doris Jasman

I arrived at the immaculate farm of Ed and Doris Jasman on a gorgeous spring day. They have lived there for 58 years, and Ed still farms a section of ground there. After they married, they basically had no furniture for the first six months. The exception was Ed's TV, a possession that ranks high in importance, he told me. After that, they relied on gifts or hand- me-downs to furnish their home when they were first starting out.

Fast forward to present day, their home today is warm, inviting and nostalgic. A study in contrasts, family photos, along with some of the beautifully maintained original furnishings, sit amid a deluxe, modern, state of the art washer and dryer combo in the kitchen. "Those are the best things ever, I couldn't live without them," Doris explained. Ed and Doris are practical, and when it comes to technology, they embrace changes that improve quality of life for them, their children or grandchildren.

Ed Jasman was born in Kageleville, on June 14, 1934, to Julius and Emma Jasman. He had three brothers and two sisters. Born on flag day, he attended school in Marlin until the eighth grade when he transferred to Odessa after his parents moved. Ed was a self proclaimed "wild child" in school until he dropped out. He decided to join the Navy in 1951 and was on the U.S.S. Boxer CVA 21.

I asked Ed if the Navy gave him the direction and discipline he needed at that time. He indicated that his military experience played a huge role in who he is today. He is especially proud that three generations (he, his son and grandson) all served as machinest mates on a carrier 25 years apart from each other.

Doris Bohnet was born in Hartline on March 12, 1938. She has lived in Grant County her entire life. Her father Fred, was born one and a half miles from where they live now. Her mother, Bertha Schuh, lived about three miles away from where Doris lives now. Doris has two older brothers, and her mother passed away when she was two. She was raised by her dad and brothers, three protective male figures in the household.

Ed and Doris would cross paths occasionally when he was home on leave, especially roller skating in Wilson Creek. Ed's Uncle Albert, a janitor at the school, was slyly playing matchmaker by telling each of them separately that the other one "really wants to go out with you." While in high school, Doris was a cheerleader and thought the best part of that job was "checking out the boys." She loved it when they would play Marlin, as it was a guaranteed victory. Ed described her as a "skinny little runt," but told me that she really blossomed later in high school. So much so, that Ed passed her while walking into the school and asked someone who the new girl was. They looked at him very puzzled and said "that's Doris Bohnet!"

Not long after, the girls were caroling around town and Ed and his friend Jack were cruising around and picked them up. Jack jumped out and pushed Doris into the middle and jumped back in so she was sitting next to Ed. The passengers all plotted to be dropped off in a very strange order so that Ed was left to take Doris home last. They began dating and were inseparable for the next five days before he had to return to the ship. He was so tired, the plane landed in San Francisco (where Ed was scheduled to report back) and he was still snoozing away mid-air after the plane had taken off again for its next destination. His ship was leaving in 24 hours and he had some explaining to do to the US Navy, but thanks to some quick finagling of flights, he made it back to the ship before it left port.

Ed and Doris would keep in contact via letters during his nine month stints at sea. "I wrote him a letter every day," Doris told me. Being the romantic bugger that he is, Ed proposed in the parking lot at a car show they were attending in Spokane. They married in 1956 in Wilson Creek. Three children followed, June, Jerry and Jan.

June married an Army Ranger and the family was transferred to Germany where a grandson and granddaughter were born. Ed and Doris had the opportunity to visit there twice. They rode bikes in the countryside, and met some great farmers. Apparently, they farm with much smaller machinery, and didn't believe Ed, when he described the size of the equipment used by our farmers. The next visit over, Ed brought pictures of our modern day equipment, and they about fell over. They invited Ed to an exclusive (farmers only) wine tasting event. Ed had a great time, and it may have been a precursor to Ed being the beer garden chairman here in Odessa twice. Daughter June is currently married to Duke Gratiot and they live in Banning, Calif.

Jan Jasman became a flight attendant after high school, and Ed and Doris enjoyed free first class flights "all over." A few years later, Jan contracted a juvenile form of leukemia. She spent four years off and on at the University Hospital in Seattle during her treatments, and was loved by everyone there. Patient's parents were given free tickets to all the sporting events and they became loyal Husky fans. In September, 1988, Jan lost her battle with leukemia. Facing Christmas without the daughter who loved Christmas so much, they made a fateful decision to hang some lights in honor of their daughter. Those Christmas lights would become a famous, ongoing project, which grew in proportion each year. What I learned that I never knew, was that the angel was placed on the roof of the house (first) every year on November 30, the day after Jan's birthday. Ed would spend weeks getting everything ready, built custom displays and eventually had over 39,000 lights hung. He would have to change as many as 250 bulbs daily. Steady streams of cars would drive by the farm during December, they were in newspapers, a magazine, and on TV stations in Spokane, Tri- Cities and Seattle. Ed continued his yearly light display until it became too overwhelming. The loving tribute to their daughter will always be remembered by the people who were blessed enough to see it...a magical glow over the horizon in the middle of wheat country, especially when it was set against the backdrop of new fallen snow.

Son Jerry lives next door, and has been with the Grant County Coroner for 23 years. Having experienced the loss of his sister and a son, he is known for being especially compassionate and caring. Doris and I laughed about his antics on Facebook, I am sure it helps him deal with the pressures of his job. He is engaged to a great gal named Kira Jones and she has received the stamp of approval from them as well as his children.

The Jasmans don't sit idle. In addition to farming, Ed has belonged to VFW Post 7395 for over 54 years. He assists with the color guard whenever needed. He has served on the church council, Odessa Trading Company board, worked at the sugar beet plant, worked on the community float for 11 years, coached little league and served as beer garden chairman twice. Ed noted that he helped construct the addition on the beer garden when they expanded. He also mentioned he has built "many a bench and table" in the beer garden over the years. Ed also drove school bus for 18 years. Doris drove also; they were well known for giving out holiday treats and a milkshake stop at the drive-in the last day of school.

Doris jokes that although she drove school bus more than Ed did, he gets the retirement check. Doris was the treasurer for the VFW Auxiliary for almost 20 years and enjoyed helping with the dinners they would put on over the years. One time, as she was talking incessantly, Marg Schlimmer said "Doris, if you don't shut up, I am going to put you in with these potatoes and mix you in with them!"

We reminisced about all the fond memories and funny stories with the float crew back in the day. Ed particularly loved the Puyallup parade because they got to go through five towns with the float. They became involved when their daughter Jan was a princess and they, along with a few others, revived the community float after 20 years. Ed described how it evolved, the first year it was on a stretched out car chassis. Janet Heimbigner would design the floats and one year they had one with a flower theme. One of the flowers was "downright ugly" Doris said, so Becky Kolterman would try to discreetly place it on the float somewhere but Janet would always find it and remove it on her pre-parade inspection. Another year, they had a bull on the float and Janet needed his jewels sewn on so the bull would be anatomically correct. Doris hates sewing, so of course, she was given the job of crawling under there and sewing them on. During the Odessa parade, Ed told me that a local boy ran out and cut off the awards.

Ed and Doris are content with the simple things in life. They have six grandchildren (one passed away) and five great-grandchildren. The key to the longevity of their marriage? Doris insists it is "making him believe he is always right." Ed had one piece of advice, "Just keep your mouth shut." They told me they hardly ever argue, probably because when they hit an impasse, Ed gets the final decision. It works for them. Generous with their children and grandchildren, their needs are simple. Their oldest great-granddaughter comes from California to spend the summer with them every year because she loves the "freedom" out in the country. When she was younger, she explained to her California friends that Washington was made up of a bunch of old people. Doris laughed and explained "that was probably because most of who she saw was us, and our older friends."

As I was leaving, I had to snap some photos of some of the most unique and beautiful irises I had ever seen, gold, with rust colored tips. As we all know, life on the farm is somewhat idyllic. But no matter how diligent we are, weeds grow and dust settles. As hard as I tried, I realized I could not find evidence of either at the Jasman farm. I asked them if they had some of the original antiques from when they married and moved in 58 years ago? "Of course!," Ed chuckled, and without missing a beat, he said, "I still have her!"