Elizabeth Ella Martin Everard

Elizabeth Ella Martin was born on September 27, 1914 in Emporia, Kansas to Henry and Mary Louise Martin. She was raised with three sisters, Kathryn Leila (Colclasure), Clara Perle (LeMon), and Ruth Louise (Brandt). The family moved for a short time to California,then to Lamar, Colorado, and finally settled in Boulder, Colorado.

Elizabeth graduated from Boulder Preparatory High School in 1932. She worked as a nanny for several years, moving on to her higher education at the University of Colorado in 1940. She received her Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education in 1944.

Elizabeth immediately went to work at the Child Service Center in the Kaiser Shipyards through the end of World War II. She adored children and continued on as a teacher in Medford, Oregon until 1946. Her teaching career then took her to Portland, OR, where she taught at Irvington School until January 1949. She taught music, and took great pride in co-producing a highly acclaimed student production of the operetta, "Hansel and Gretal."

In 1947, Elizabeth exchanged wedding vows with Fred J. Voigt in Boulder, Colorado. The couple moved to Seattle, Washington in 1949 where Elizabeth directed her love and energy into raising her own two children, John and Ruth. Fred passed away in 1957.

Elizabeth married Redmond Everard in 1958 and continued living in Seattle. In later years the couple lived in Billings, Montana, Spokane Washington, and finally settled in Vancouver, Washington.

Elizabeth was actively involved the First United Methodist Church in Seattle from 1949 through 1965. She was President of the Women's Society, a role she took to heart and worked at tirelessly.

When Elizabeth was a young child, her father, who was a carpenter, roofed the home of a piano teacher. The teacher offered piano lessons to his family as payment for the project. Elizabeth learned to play beautifully and found great pleasure in performing. She also enjoyed singing. Another favorite pastime was sewing. Ruth remembers her mother making dresses for her when she was a child and later sewing pretty outfits for her granddaughters. In her later years, Elizabeth found joy in going on walks in Orchards Park in Vancouver with her husband, Redmond. Of all the things in life that Elizabeth loved, she especially loved her family. She cherished her grandchildren and delighted in every moment she got to spend with them.

As Redmond's health declined, Elizabeth showed her strength and loyalty by stepping up as his primary caregiver. She had also cared for her mother and father when they became ill in their final years. Elizabeth always put others' needs before her own.

Elizabeth passed away at the age of 96 on April 9, 2011 with loving family at her side. She is survived by her children, John Voigt (Janalyn), and Ruth Bigback (Gordon); grandchildren, Kristyn and Elizabeth Bigback, Kate Jones (Scott), and Kirk and Jay Voigt; step-grandchildren, Zemeir Voigt, Jessica Loescher, and Jeremy Main; great-grandchildren, Natalie and Zachary Voigt, with one on the way. Elizabeth has one surviving sister, Ruth Brandt, of Pico Rivera, California. All who knew her will miss Elizabeth. She will be remembered for her kind, selfless ways, and her phenomenal memory. She was often called upon for birthday or anniversary dates of family members, and related innumerable memories about her life and her family. She will be sorely missed.

The family suggests contributions in Elizabeth's name to:

Hospice Southwest in Vancouver, WA.