Elsie Mary LeFree was born on August 22, 1923 in Montesano, Washington. She is the fourth and last child born to Frank Douglas Stockbridge and Elsie Fisher. She thoroughly enjoyed her early years in Montesano with her family, friends, and pets. After the death of her father, Elsie and her mother moved to Everett, Washington, where she lived for many years prior to her move to Mukilteo, Washington.
Elsie attended and graduated from Everett High School, where she met her future husband, Theodore (Ted) Elton LeFree. Elsie worked in a photography studio where she hand-painted color onto monochrome photographs to heighten their realism. She also enjoyed working as a telephone operator at the West Coast Telephone Company in Everett during the 1940’s and early 1950’s. Elsie paused her career for a number of years to raise children, and then returned to work in telecommunications at Boeing and General Telephone and Electronics, from which she retired in the late 1980’s. She enjoyed an active and service-oriented retirement for many years, and cherished her family, as well as the many friendships she made over her 97 years. On May 18, 2021, after a brief illness, Elsie peacefully returned to God.
Elsie was predeceased by her parents, sisters, brother, husband, daughter, and one son. She is survived by one son and daughter-in-law, three grandchildren, one great-granddaughter, and numerous extended family members, who will all miss her very much.
Elsie is known to family and many others as a faithful, optimistic, kind, fun, generous and loving woman, who referred to her significant life experiences – whether they were wonderful, or difficult – as, “Adventures”.
Her favorite songs include, “You Are My Sunshine”, the hymn, “I Believe in Christ”, and many happy songs from theatrical musicals.
Elsie practiced many forms of artistry and craft, including painting, calligraphy, crochet and needlework, and specialized in ceramic art for decades. Her studious research, attention to detail, and gifted touch produced many award-winning ceramics. She seemed particularly interested in the beauty of flowers, birds, and other wildlife.
Elsie was fascinated with her family’s history, and she helped many others discover their family ancestry. She carefully documented her family tree back many generations, and was an early advocate of DNA testing to find distant family members. Her efforts were rewarded many times, and she traveled as far as Nova Scotia and New Zealand to connect with distant relatives whom she found from her research.
The LeFree family will hold a viewing on June 2, 2021 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Evergreen Funeral Home and Cemetery, 4504 Broadway, Everett, WA.
A funeral service will be held on June 3, 2021 at 10 a.m. at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 11001 Harbour Pointe Boulevard, Mukilteo, WA.
For those wishing to donate to a charity in honor of Elsie Mary LeFree, her family suggests either Seattle Children’s Hospital, or Latter-day Saint Charities – Humanitarian Fund.
Partager l'avis de décès
v.1.9.5