Shirley Jean Gnojek

Loving, kind and generous are words that describe Shirley Gnojek, who passed away in her sleep on the first day of summer to be with her beloved husband, Lud. If you’ve ever had a “green handshake” from her, you knew just how generous she was. At the age of 89 she was still fun loving; her favorites things were heading out for a drive in her car, going out to breakfast or a day at the Casino. She was fond of her great grandkids nickname of “Grandma two sticks”, coined for the two canes she sometimes used. She was loved by family and friends alike.

Shirley was born in January of 1930 on her family’s farm in Enumclaw, Washington to Henry and Lillian Madding. There she helped raise chickens along with her brother, Wyatt and sister, Leona. Some of her favorite memories on the farm were jumping into the hay mound from the loft of the barn and spitting cherry pits at her brother and sister from the tree, of which she could climb the highest. The family moved to Seattle and bought a large house on Capitol Hill when she was 10 years old. Shirley went to Garfield High School and graduated in 1948. She was introduced to her future husband, Lud Gnojek, by a family friend who worked with Lud. They were married in 1950 and bought a house in Ballard where they raised their three daughters and resided for the rest of their lives.

In the summer the family would go on road trips almost every weekend in their red and white camper. Favorite trips included clam digging at the ocean, huckleberry picking in the foothills of Mount Rainier or vacations to Great Falls, Montana to visit Lud’s mother, Anna Gnojek, and brother, Walt Gnojek and family. Shirley was an avid salmon fisher. During the season she’d go on charters out of Westport with her dear neighbors and friends, Wes and Ramona Springer.

Shirley was preceded in death by her husband, Lud; son, Wayne, who passed in 1955 due to premature birth; her brother, Wyatt Madding; son in law, Steve Griffith; and grandson, Dean Griffith.

She is survived by her daughters, Elaine Griffith, Arlene Sund (Rob), and Nan (Andy) Pishue; sister, Leona Thompson; four grandchildren, Troy (Karen) Griffith, Wyatt Griffith (Jaimee), Wayne (Eron) Pishue, and Lexine Pishue (Tim); and four great grandkids.

Please join us for a celebration of Shirley’s life on Sunday, July 7th at 2:00 pm at Evergreen Washelli in Seattle for gravesite burial followed by a reception/memorial luncheon. In lieu of flowers Shirley requested donations be sent to “Make a Wish Foundation.”