Velma Jean Lamberson passed away in the loving care of Hospice and the staff at Kim's Cottage, surrounded by her children and grandchildren, on September 12, 2023, five days before her 91st birthday.  Jean was born in Yazoo City, Mississippi on September 17, 1932.  Her parents were Robert (Bobby) Powell and Mary Neely Powell.  Shortly after Jean's birth, her loving grandmother, Mollie Hannah Powell, along with Jean's father, Bobby Powell, began raising Jean and her older sister, Bobbie Lee.

Jean grew up in rural Mississippi with many great memories of holidays and small town activities, and a wealth of friends, and her fun loving cousins.  She graduated from Yazoo City High School in 1951 where she was active in many activities including drill team, president and secretary of the Future Homemakers of America, and high school sports Pep Club.  After graduating from high school, she moved to the "Big City", Jackson, Mississippi, to live with her sister Bobbie Lee and attend Draughon's Business College.  After graduation from Business College, Jean worked for IBM and the Lamar Life Insurance Company.

In 1954, she met a handsome ex-Marine, Bob Lamberson.  They were married on September 3, 1955, in Jackson, MS.  To Bob's family's surprise, they met Jean soon after Bob and Jean were married.  Shortly thereafter, their three children, Steve, Stan, and Mollie were born.

After living in Jackson, MS for about a year, Bob and Jean moved back to Bob's home in Little Rock, AK, where Bob began working for the McCullough Corporation.

In 1963, Bob was offered an outstanding opportunity to own a McCullough chainsaw distributorship in Spokane.  In that year, he moved Jean and the kids to Spokane, a place that the southern Lamberson family had never heard of.  That's where Bob and Jean settled and began their life.

Jean was a wonderful stay-at-home mom, participating in Cub Scouts, Girl Scouts, school activities, and many other things that were offered in Spokane.  She was an awesome host and planner for all holidays, especially Christmas and Easter.  She was a fantastic southern cook.  She was an avid bridge player, hosting many bridge parties.  She loved golf.  She developed close relationships with the Indian Trail neighbors, including the Schlosser family, especially Norma Schlosser.  In recent years, Norma became Jean's roommate and close companion, caring for each other at the end of their lives, coming full circle in a relationship that began 60 years ago.

Spokane was the first time that Jean and her family experienced real winter, so she immersed the kids in all forms of winter activities, particularly skiing, which became a family passion.  Her church life at Country Homes Christian Church was extremely important to her.  She was a long-time Sunday school teacher, nursery director, and active participant in all other church activities.  Her church family has remained an important anchor and support for her, particularly in recent years.  She was the longest active member.

Jean was a wonderful, compassionate, and caring mother, but she truly shined as a grandmother to six grandchildren, Chelsea, Breanna, Katherine, Parker, Tucker, and Brady.  She was intricately involved in their lives and activities and was an emotional support person for them.  She attended every sporting event, activity, graduation, and many other events, regardless of how seemingly insignificant.  The gatherings at the farm were legendary in Jean's family, especially the competitive Easter egg hunt and the pumpkin party.

Bob and Jean purchased a beautiful farm in the Colbert area in 1994, which became their home and site for many family holidays and gatherings.

Jean was pre-deceased by her husband Bob Lamberson, her father Bobby Powell, her mother Mary Powell, grandmother Mollie Powell, her sister Bobbie Lee Fowler and brother-in-law Lee Fowler.  Her survivors include her son and daughter-in-law Steve and Kris Lamberson, her son and daughter-in-law Stan and Tami Lamberson, and daughter Mollie McDonald.  She is also survived by her cherished grandchildren, Chelsea Lamberson Goss (Tyson), Breanna Como (Tyler), Katherine Lamberson, Parker McDonald, Tucker McDonald, and Brady Lamberson (Shelby), and great grandchildren, Viggo Goss, Roman Goss, Maci Como-Renner, Maverick Como, Tristan McDonald, and Finn McDonald, as well as her loving nieces, Cindy Asken, Judy Rich, Betty Ann Avery, and Jamie Hux.  Jean will be terribly missed but her spirit lives on in her family and the many friends she touched.