Mernie B. Zahnow

Mernie B. Zahnow, age 91, passed away peacefully at her Seattle home on January 16, 2018 after feeling ill the previous day. She was loved for her good humor, pinochle skills, and kindness and generosity to all. Born in Republic, Washington, August 18,1926, Mernie was the daughter of Theodore Cummings and Laura Forester. She is also predeceased by her great-grandson Brayden Branley; sister, Lucy Faye Cummings, and brother, Robert Allen Cummings; and by her adopted sister, Gynetha Alexander.

At age 12, Mernie went to live on a depression era chicken farm on Whidbey Island, where she met the soon to be married Gynetha. The two girls adopted each other as sisters, later raising their daughters as cousins. After finishing high school and cleaning enough eggs to last a lifetime, she left the farm in 1945 to start nursing school at St. Luke's hospital in Bellingham, graduating in 1948. She had a long and successful career, working in various hospitals and doctors' offices in Washington and Colorado. Her favorite role was that of operating room nurse. During her training, she cared for tonsillectomy patient Ray Zahnow, whom she married in 1949. They had one daughter and eventually divorced.

Mernie always loved to travel and took ocean cruises to Tahiti and Russia, and riverboat trips on the Mississippi River System and the Columbia River. Ice hockey was a passion for her; she had no interest at all in other sports. She was an active member of the Lynnwood Eagles Auxiliary for many years and served a term as president In 2002, she left Everett and moved into a small cottage near her daughter in the Columbia City neighborhood of Seattle, where she quickly made friends with all her neighbors. In 2011, she moved to an apartment nearby at Park Place, an assisted living home. There, she was notorious for organizing midnight pinochle games, and well loved by many of her fellow residents for her caring friendship. She was beloved by her daughter's community of friends who appreciated her sassy wit, love of music, and shining light.

She is survived by her daughter, Bonita R. Zahnow, of Seattle; granddaughter, Alicia Branley, and great-grandson, Gabriel Branley, both of Salt Lake City; nephews Allen, Gary Zahnow, and Mike Mehler; nieces Linda Knights, Marcie Impagliazzo, Sheri Mehler Folsom, Sue Collier, and Valerie Forhan; and by the four Alexander sisters, her adopted nieces, of the Bellingham area.

A memorial celebration will be held Monday, January 22, at Park Place, 6900 37th Avenue Funeral services will be Monday, January 29,10:30 a.m., with viewing available at 10:00. Evergreen Funeral Home, 4505 Broadway, Everett, WA 98203, followed by a potluck luncheon at the Everett Eagles, 1216 Broadway, Everett, WA 98201.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to benefit a young friend of ours starting her nursing education here: www.gofundme.com/memorial-formernie

To contact Bonita:

[email protected] -- 206-805-9109 -- 3030 S. Bradford St., Seattle, WA 98108