SEATTLE NEWS ARCHIVES & FEATURES

The full picture of Jayme Biendl

Feb 8, 2011, 2:58 PM | Updated: Mar 28, 2011, 3:46 pm

Since the murder of Monroe Correction’s officer Jayme Biendl, we’ve seen one photo of the woman who was strangled to death in the prison chapel. It’s a picture of her wearing her blue uniform and identification badge at work. She’s only half smiling.

Today, at her memorial service in Everett, we got the full picture of who this beautiful woman was.

BiendlThe stage featured larger-than-life pictures of a smiling Jayme.

Photos of a Jayme flashed on an oversized screen as slow, sometimes haunting piano cords struck. Pictures moving into view of little Jayme sitting on Santa’s knee, a young girl wearing her hair in pig tails as she played with her sisters, a teen riding horses, a young woman holding a white bouquet when she appeared as a bridesmaid in a wedding party.

Co-workers described her as “brave,” “courageous” and someone who gave “110 percent to her job.” The prison chaplain gave us a better understanding of who she was as a person, not as a Washington State Corrections employee, during today’s eulogy.

Jayme grew up in Granite Falls, the oldest of six children. She graduated from Granite Falls High School in 1995 and growing up Jayme enjoyed playing softball, camping trips with her family, and “corralling her brothers and sisters.”

Outside of her job, Jayme was described as someone who “truly enjoyed life.” She was an amazing cook and loved to try out new recipes to share with her family. She would get so excited about a recipe that she couldn’t wait to get in the car and take it over to share with her mom. Jayme loved it when a holiday came around because she would fill the crock pot and be the first to arrive. She also loved being the hostess. Her parties were full of food, fun and laughter. Jayme worked hard to make people feel welcome, and she wanted everyone to have a good time.

Jayme Lee Biendl was born February 6, 1976 and lost her life in the line of duty on January 29, 2011, just eight days shy of her 35th birthday.

Video tribute courtesy KING 5 TV (sorry for the commercial at the beginning, it’s a part of their embedding)

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