Jimi Lenore Bury

Jimi Lenore Bury, 69, a lifetime resident of the East Side, most recently Issaquah, WA, was surrounded by her loved ones as she passed away peacefully right before midnight on Saturday, February 17, 2024. She entered heaven after bravely taking on an 8-month battle with brain cancer (grade 4 glioblastoma).

Her children knew her as a loving, sweet mother that showed unwavering support. In the community, she has been most known for her dedication to bowling. She was born on September 21, 1954, in Kirkland, Washington to James Elvin Gaines & Elfriede Margaret (Hunich) Gaines. From her childhood she shared many fond memories of spending time at her Grandma Hunich’s house. Her love for bowling and being at Totem Bowl began at an early age as well. She was on the Lake Washington High School bowling team and was later promoted to coach. She was fiercely competitive, her long list of bowling achievements include the Greater Seattle triple crown, league high series, 700 series, many 600 series and league high average. At the bowl, she maintained many different jobs that she was proud of including the snack counter, front desk, accountant, becoming the Treasurer on the board for the corporation, but her absolute favorite was the pro-shop. Her most loved pro-shop moments were when the Seahawks football team came in to purchase bowling balls. If you asked about her pro-shop days, she would tell you about the time she drilled a ball for Shawn Alexander.

On August 7, 1983 she married Bruce Anthony Bury in Kirkland, WA. They moved to Maltby in 1986 and spent 32 and a half years together raising four children: Katie, Brittany, Valerie, and John. Her priorities shifted from all bowling to caring, supporting, and endlessly loving her kids in the best way she knew how. She introduced a few of them to T-ball, later turning into softball and baseball. She also got the idea of entering Katie and Brittany into beauty pageants. She was the parent who would always take her children to practices, be present at their games, and loudly cheer, “Yeah baby!”

She was steadfast in her love for bowling and would bowl in leagues twice a week. Tuesday mornings she bowled in her ladies Renegades league and enjoyed being on a team with her Mom until her passing and then continued the tradition by asking Valerie to join her team.

She expressed herself through unique style and bright colors - loud shoes and many colorful pairs of pants. This was also true in the vehicle she drove - a flashy orange Camaro with racing stripes down the center. She loved bright colors so much she even had her house painted teal with an electric blue trim. She attributed this to being a Mariners fan! Cheering on the Seahawks and Mariners in person or by yelling at the TV were some of her other favorite pastimes. Another legacy she passes along to her family is her love for cats. Her cat James, and all of her animals throughout her life were very dear to her.

She was an impressive person: highly competitive, silly, ornery and stubborn, living life to the beat of her own drum, proving anyone wrong of expectations they might have had for her. She was relentless on the approach, and didn’t show mercy when beating others in bowling but she was also sensitive, empathetic, and faced many of her fears and insecurities. Grandma Jimi loved all of the countless hugs, laughs, kisses, and snuggles from her grandkids. She always had a sweet tooth, loved a rare steak, but abhorred water. Most days you would find her with a Sweet Tea or Pepsi close by. And at Christmas and birthdays, she was by far, the best gift-giver.

The last year of Jimi’s life was full. Thanks to time spent with family and her caregiver Mary, Jimi had a very social and adventurous year. She attended her 50th reunion at Lake Washington High School, traveled to Florida, Hawaii, the Oregon Coast, went on lots of boat rides and spent days on the beach by the lake that always seemed to bring her a sense of peace. She ate great meals with her kids, and spent evenings sitting in her rocking chair watching the sunset on the balcony, her most loyal feline companion, James, in her lap. Even post-brain surgery, she was still able to bowl a while longer and often came to watch her family bowl in their league. She visited the senior center multiple times a week, got her nails done, went to Mariners games and even the Seahawks game on Thanksgiving.

In tribute to her, we will be bowling a 300.

Jimi is survived by her children Katie Wuestenberg, husband Clayton, Brittany Gross, husband Dylan, Valerie Bury, John Bury, wife Sierra, and grandkids Wyatt Wuestenberg, Cora Wuestenberg, Adelyn Gross, and a second baby girl Gross is due any day.

Viewing will be at 11:30am on Monday, February 26th, 2024, followed by a service at 12:30pm at Evergreen Washelli, 11111 Aurora Ave. N., Seattle, WA 98133. We will also be hosting a reception at TechCity Bowl 13033 NE 70th Pl., Kirkland, WA 98033 at 4pm in honor of Jimi Bury.

In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations being made to Fred Hutch Cancer Center for glioblastoma research in memory of Jimi.