Janet Adele George

Janet Adele George

Janet Adele George, 87, of Sun Valley, Idaho, passed away on June 27, 2026, while listening to classical music.

Janet was born on June 2, 1939, to Blanche and Troy George Sr. in Moberly, Missouri. She was the middle of three children, joining her older brother, Troy. Janet was delighted when her baby brother, Lance, was born. Janet’s family later relocated to Salinas, California, where she developed her lifelong love of horses. After attending community college for a year, she transferred to Stanford University to major in nursing. To help pay for college, Janet worked as a blackjack dealer, an experience that sharpened her ability to “read” people—an instinct that would serve her well in her future professions. She was also a flight attendant with the Flying Tigers.

Janet continued her education, earning a master’s degree in nursing from the University of Washington. Driven by a desire to help others, she became an assistant professor there, educating future nurses. She later worked at the Seattle Mental Health Institute and eventually became its director of nursing. Through these experiences, Janet became an attentive listener who approached people without blame. That gift became the foundation for her extraordinary ability to support people in crisis and ultimately led her to law school.

Janet attended the University of Puget Sound School of Law and completed her degree in just 24 months. After graduation, she accepted a position as a King County prosecutor. Although she valued the experience, Janet soon realized that prosecution was not her calling. After two years, she joined Wolfgang Anderson and found her niche. She loved family law and became immensely successful. In 1979, Janet opened her own law firm, where her goal was to help clients navigate divorce with strength, clarity, and compassion.

Janet represented prominent clients in cases including the Larson-Kalhoun divorce and the Mary M. Wright divorce. She also consulted on the divorce of Jeff and MacKenzie Bezos, assessing how the separation might affect Amazon’s stability. Janet’s ability to combine the insight she gained as a nurse with the people-reading skills she developed as a blackjack dealer helped establish her as a distinguished Super Lawyer. In 2017, Janet merged her highly successful law firm with McKinley Irvin as she discovered a growing love for golf.

Janet’s energy and stamina allowed her to enjoy a wide range of activities throughout her life, including horseback riding, tennis, skiing, flying, pool, golf, and pickleball.

Janet lived an extraordinary life and was loved by many for her fun-loving, accepting spirit. She is survived by her brother, William Lance George; nieces, Ruth Dowling and Jennifer Solomon; nephews, Troy George Jr., Michael George, and Matthew George; and her “adopted” grandson, Jake Hanson, who spent many hours helping perfect Janet’s golf swing at The Valley Club in Sun Valley, Idaho.

A celebration of Janet’s remarkable life will be held on August 8, 2026, at her home in Sun Valley, Idaho. Janet did not want anyone to mourn her passing; instead, she asked everyone to be more caring and forgiving. She lived life to the fullest and was an inspiration to all who knew her. She will be missed.