Pullman, WA - Jean L. (Asendorf) Marlowe, most recently of Pullman, WA, passed away peacefully at the age of 86 early on Christmas morning of 2025. Jean struggled with dementia during the last years of her life, especially after the death of her husband in 2020.

Born on January 16, 1939 to Herbert and Marguerite (Clasby) Asendorf in Fairbury, NE, Jean was the eldest of two sisters. Following graduation from Fairbury High School, Jean met her future husband, Al Marlowe, of Dallas, TX, at a summer camp in Colorado Springs, CO. They were married in February of 1960. They settled in Dallas, where their children Karl and Karol were born. The family moved to the Denver area in November of 1963, raising their two children in what was then the outskirts of Lakewood, CO. In 1990, they achieved a lifelong dream of moving into the mountains, outside of Evergreen, CO.

Between raising her children and multiple dogs (about a dozen Golden Retrievers, a couple of English Setters and Border Collies), Jean began selling Avon cosmetics in their Lakewood neighborhood. In spite of not needing or wearing makeup other than occasional lipstick, she was a sales leader in the west Denver suburbs. In 1972, she moved on to a position with the United States Geological Survey (USGS), working in the map and publication sales office. She advanced to the role of manager of one of the USGS publications distribution centers, while completing an Associate Degree of Applied Science - Management at Red Rocks Community College. Her most significant achievement with the USGS was being part of the team that developed the precursor to the current USGS website. She retired from the Survey in about 1995.

Jean always had a love for animals, and after retirement began working as a pet sitter in the Evergreen area. In 1997, she and a friend/co-worker started their own pet sitting business, which rapidly developed into a near full-time job based solely on word-of-mouth advertising. Jean kept up the business until a car accident in 2007 forced her into semi-retirement, although she still kept a few clients until Al and Jean moved to Grand Junction, CO, in 2015.

From an early age, Jean had a keen interest in the outdoors (fishing, hunting, hiking, camping), gardening, dogs (especially Golden Retrievers) and fixing stuff. During their years in Evergreen, Jean often accompanied Al on his trips compiling maps and trail descriptions for his first guidebook to the Flat Tops Wilderness of NW Colorado (she's on the cover of the guidebook). Jean was always busy with projects around the house and yard, including butchering elk for the freezer, painting the house, raising chickens and turkeys, cutting firewood, repairing irrigation sprinklers, landscaping, and daily walks with the dogs. Finally, at the age of 81, her son took away her chainsaws and ladders, informing her that she was no longer a spring chicken and shouldn't be doing such dangerous chores. Her neighbors in Grand Junction kept a close eye on her and let Karl know if she was spotted on the roof.

Jean was preceded in death by her husband of 60 years, Al Marlowe (2020). She is survived by her sister Betty Asendorf (Wheat Ridge, CO), son Karl Marlowe and his wife Laurie Marlowe (Reno, NV), daughter Karol Marlowe and her husband Alan Thomson (Albion, WA), niece Becki Lynn Bauer and her husband Jeff Bauer (Parker, CO), and her beloved Golden Retriever, Emmy (Reno, NV).

The family is grateful for the kind, considerate care given to her by the nurses and staff at Bishop Place Senior Living and Gentiva Hospice.

Jean and Al requested no services be held. However, the family will plan a gathering in the Colorado Mountains to release their ashes. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Golden Retriever Rescue of the Rockies (GRRR).