Reka Marie Lee

Reka Marie Lee, 88 of Woodinville/Bothell, Washington passed away October 16, 2016 in Tremonton Utah. A celebration of life will be held at Floral Hills Funeral Home in Lynnwood, Washington on Saturday, November 26, 2016 at 1:00pm.

Reka was born May 26, 1928 in Broadus, Montana to Charles and Zora Hanify. Much of her personal strength and love of family was derived from her early years, living through the Great Depression, on “The Homestead”, a 14 x 14 log cabin on the prairie in Epsie, Montana. She shared many happy memories there playing with her siblings Beverly “Bud” Hanify, Ethlyn “Lyn” (Hanify) Broadbent and Carol (Hanify) Stewart. She went to high school in Port Angeles, Washington where she met Bob, her husband to be. She went on to earn a degree in Nursing. She was amazing when working with laboring moms and also had a passion for working in the operating room. Medicine ran strongly throughout her family history. Her Maternal grandparents were a doctor and a nurse. Her aunt and sister were also nurses. She passed along her love of medicine to both daughters, a granddaughter and great granddaughters who are following in her footsteps. Reka began her career at Waldo General Hospital, and later also worked at Morton General Hospital and Virginia Mason Medical Center.

Reka Marie Lee’s life was defined by a loving heart. This love was evident in her infectious laugh and twinkling eyes. It was evident in the way that you felt around her-special, important, understood at the deepest level, loved. So many things delighted her. Reka loved her family, the water, a house on the beach or in the woods… or in a cute little town! She loved the potential in an old house and putting her dreams into action meant you would be getting your tools out! While she surely loved houses, she also loved to have access to a car for a quick get-away and adventure! She loved her “goodies”-“Lee homemade fudge” in particular and was ready for any excuse to share some goodies with you!! She loved her Irish heritage. She loved to visit over a warm pot of tea and cookies. She loved to sing and even performed with a kitchen band, called The Fun Band, in her later years. She loved antiques. She loved and collected Native American jewelry, rugs, blankets and baskets. She loved the texture of the wool as she spun it on her spinning wheel. Reka loved the small businesses she owned throughout her adulthood with her husband and family-Log Cabin Antiques, Gramma’s House, 4 to Go Sportswear, Café Park Place, Feather Creek, Town Hall Antique Mall, and Doggie Daycare. She loved the many relationships and friendships she formed in each of these endeavors! She was always quick to make a friend and had many with whom she shared laughter and special memories. Reka loved to host big family dinners and make beautiful pies and mashed potatoes with gravy. She loved her big cats, and her little doggies. She loved us all.

Most of all, she loved her family-her husband Robert Lee, her children: Catharine Griffith (Les), Susan Creger (Chet), James Lee (Dee Dee) and Robert Lee (Maureen). She loved her nieces and her nephews. They were very special to her and helped her continue to feel closer to her siblings when they left us. She loved to squeeze her treasured grandbabies (an impressive legacy of 17 grandchildren, 33 great-grandchildren and 4 great great-grandchildren-so far!!). She loved to have her whole family around her; she “just loved them to pieces”. Reka had so much love to share with so many. She will be so very missed. We were blessed to have been loved by Reka Marie Lee. Her love was big enough to hold us together yet gracious enough to give us wings.

Your support, kindness, and condolences may be left in Reka’s online guestbook at www.floralhillslynnwood.com. The family wishes to extend their gratitude to the Bear River Care Center in Tremonton, Utah for their support in her Final Days.