Jaimi Shaw Blackham Sowby

 1977  –  2026

Jaimi Shaw Blackham Sowby

Jaimi Shaw Blackham Sowby passed away peacefully on April 4, 2026 due to lingering health conditions brought on by brain cancer (Glioblastoma).  She was born on April 6, 1977 (a birthdate she shared with her Dad) in Seattle, Washington, to Col. Benjamin T. Blackham and Sally Elizabeth Briggs Blackham.

In her first 18 years of life, Jaimi’s family moved around the world with their Dad serving as a dentist in the United States Air Force, which included attending four different high schools in four years! She graduated from Bitburg High School in Germany.

After many years of packing, moving, and joyful traveling, Jaimi selected Brigham Young University for higher education and completed a Bachelor of Art Degree in French Literature in 2000. She continued her higher education with a Master’s Degree in Education at University of Phoenix, graduating in 2003, which supported her passion for teaching and mentoring children.

Jaimi loved learning and the process of teaching – her time spent as a teacher afforded her meaningful opportunities to develop the children in her classrooms, connect and support their parents, and build friendships with other teachers and administrators. She spent countless hours carefully documenting the ongoing progress of her students over the course of the year, producing beautiful scrapbooks at the conclusion of the year to help her students recognize their own success and feel more confident as they approached their next year of school. She wrote her own units and shared numerous creative ideas with colleagues. Jaimi was a life-long learner and loved to take continuing education classes to increase her teaching abilities, and she was a well-respected professional.

Jaimi and Jacob

She was married and sealed in the Salt Lake Temple to Jacob M. Sowby on August 1, 2003 and has been a supportive, loving wife. Together they strengthened each other and built a home based on faith in Jesus Christ, fun, and hard work. They cheered each other’s successes and lifted each other when they confronted difficult days. They loved and cherished each other and Kyli and Asher. Often Jaimi would say that she loved her children “to the moon and back.” And they love her just as much today as they did on any other of their lives.

Jaimi loves Jesus Christ. She was a devoted member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, where all of her favorite opportunities to serve were within the Primary organization (especially Nursery), sharing her love of the Gospel of Jesus Christ with children. While she faithfully served in many ways within the Church, her heart was happiest when she was surrounded by littles.

She was dedicated to her family and thoughtfully cared for her children, her extended family of siblings, nieces, nephews, friends, neighbors, and more. She was a terrific cook and loved to share her creations with those around her. Jaimi was a dedicated homemaker in creating an environment that invited a peaceful, loving spirit for her family, while also joyfully celebrating holidays – it is truly a blessing to be in the Sowby home for all of the goodness she brings and anyone who visits ends up staying for a treat and long conversations.

Jaimi’s selection of literature for her academic pursuits was perfect for her, as she loved the value of a well-written and perfectly illustrated story. Her personal collection of childrens books and young adult fiction stories rival many school libraries – and she loved to select the perfect books to give as a treasured gifts. And, oh, did she give away a lot of books!

She is survived by her loving husband, Jacob Sowby and their beautiful children, Kyli Shaw (15) and Asher Mark (10); as well as her parents, Ben and Sally Blackham, and mother-in-law, Dana Sowby. She will also be missed by her siblings, Jennifer Stevens (Dan), Heidi Tuita (Rick), Megan Vaisa, Michael Blackham (Heidi) and Mara James (Adnan), and sister-in-law, SarahAnn Whitbeck, as well as 19 nieces and nephews, 2 great nieces, and many extended family. Additionally, she has a broad network of other loved ones and close friends (Church, school, and community). A special thank you to all of the compassionate caregivers who helped during her final year in Salt Lake and in Kirkland. She is preceded in death by her father-in-law, Ken Sowby.

Friends may call to pay respects on Friday, April 17 from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Finn Hill Building (7910 NE 132nd St, Kirkland, WA 98034), suggested dress is business casual. Also, friends may call to pay respects on Saturday, April 18 from 9:00-10:45 a.m. at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Sammamish Valley Stake Center (10115 172nd Ave NE, Redmond, WA 98052), suggested dress is Sunday best. The funeral service will begin at 11:00am and will last about an hour. That service will be available online here: https://zoom.us/j/95878744680

Interment will be in Salt Lake City, Utah. Friends may call on Friday, April 24 from 6:00 – 9:00 p.m. at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Parley’s 3^rd/5^th Ward Building (2615 East Stringham Ave, Salt Lake City, UT 84109) suggested dress is business casual.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a memorial donation to the Bridge of Promise (Jaimi’s favorite local charitable organization) via https://app.betterunite.com/bridgeofpromise-bridgeofpromisegiving.