Sally Jean Noel

Sally was born in Yakima Washington to William Edward and Myra Florence Kiloh. In her early years, the family moved frequently throughout the Pacific Northwest and Alaska. Her father passed away while she was still a young child and she and her mother settled in the Everett Washington area. Despite difficult conditions and a lack of material possessions during her formative years, she always recalled her youth with gratitude toward her mother and those who gave her opportunity. She was a devoted student, which lead her to read avidly throughout her life.

A love of books led her to become a librarian. It was while working at a library she met Allen Noel with whom she was married for forty-six years. Sally lived in the Seattle area after being married all but for a brief time the family was in Germany and Virginia for Allen’s military service.

Dedication to her family made her a model homemaker. She spent many hours over the years helping with homework. She always kept the house in perfect order. Sally worked only part-time to allow her to be a stay-at-home mom and did dress making and clothes alterations. “Grammy” as she was called in later years, was the classic sweet grandmother. Frequent visits, phone calls, thoughtful gifts, homemade banana bread and snickerdoodles by the dozens describe something of her devotion. Sally was an excellent cook and the birthday cakes and Christmas cookies she gave were prized. Sally put a high priority on keeping in contact with family and friends in distant places. She had a rich social life, particularly late in life when she made a number of exceptional friends.

Genealogy was a great passion from the time Sally was a teenager. She created volumes upon volumes of family tree charts. Travels to Europe and across the United States were frequently in pursuit of documentation or to see an ancestral home. She was a member of the Seattle Genealogical Society for 44 years and volunteered for a period at their library. Sally believed that those who came before should be honored even if they were no longer within living memory. This was an outgrowth of her love for family and respect for all people.

Jazz music played in her home all the time. Special celebrations often included going to concerts at a local jazz venue. For her family, the best part of every show was watching how much Sally enjoyed the experience.

Sally is survived by her son Andy, his wife Amy, her granddaughter Zoe, grandson Anders and his fiancé Bella, and by many who will always love and remember her.

Donations can be made in Sally’s name to:

Seattle Genealogical Society

4649 Sunnyside Ave Suite 302

Seattle, WA 98103-6955

On-line donations can be made at https://seagensoc.org