Elaine W Jones

Elaine was born in Pocatello, Idaho to parents, James Nield Wilson and Katrina Pearl Quivey. Elaine was intelligent, well-versed in the events and issues of the day, soft-spoken and an independent thinker. She passed peacefully of natural causes with her eldest daughter at her side in The Dalles, Oregon at the age of 92.

Elaine's formative years were spent in Salt Lake City, Utah where she graduated from East High School and attended the University of Utah for one year prior to marrying and becoming a beloved mother and homemaker.

Elaine's husband's rapid advancement in the newspaper profession took her to Colorado, Nebraska, back to Utah, to California and lastly, to Washington during her first seven years of marriage. She gave birth to four children during this time span, each born in a different state.

While expecting her fourth child in 1957, Elaine & family moved from San Diego, California to the Seattle area, residing in Briarcrest, Montlake and Lake Forest Park before settling down in a newly-constructed home in Shoreline.

To set aside funds for the higher education of her children, Elaine accepted a position in the Customer Accounting Department of The Great Northern Railroad / Burlington Northern Railroad in 1966, working several positions there before retiring in 1990. After her children had left the Shoreline home, Elaine married Daniel Jones and the two of them lived in a beautiful home in Mukilteo, Washington with a view of Puget Sound. After Dan's passing in 1993, Elaine chose to live independently in the Mukilteo home with her beloved kitties until December 2022. The Mukilteo home was the place of many family gatherings and celebrations.

Elaine, like her mother and grandparents, held a deep reverence for learning and continued education and instilled those values in her children and grandchildren. Over a period of nearly 15 years, all of it while working full-time and much of it with children still at home, Elaine took night courses at the University of Washington and was awarded a bachelor's degree in accounting in 1979 which she later put to use by creating her own accounting business from home. Elaine also set up investment accounts to fund higher education for her grandchildren.

Throughout her life, Elaine was passionate about solving the most difficult crossword and sudoku puzzles, creating and maintaining her lovely gardens, and caring for her many rescued feline companions. Above all, she was always there for her children and grandchildren.

Elaine is survived by all four of her children; Kathleen Bari Pierce, Craig Robert Mariger, Randall Paul Mariger and Sheri Lynn McWethy-Kennedy; by her step-daughter Desiree Bradley; by her brother Michael James Wilson; by five grandchildren; and by two great grandchildren.

Elaine was the highly respected family matriarch and all of her children were deeply devoted to her, and she to them. She is profoundly missed and is always and forever ~ Loved.