Myrtle A Monette

Myrtle Alford Monette was born in 1918 in Bellevue, Louisiana to Edgar Alford and Mattie Carter.

For most of her childhood she was raised by her father on the Alford family farm with many cousins living on adjacent plots of land. Grandfather Cicero Alford and Grandmother Paulina were very important in shaping Myrtle’s life. They helped raise her and the cousins to learn and enjoy the life of farming and the community of family.

Myrtle would retell memories of walking to school with her cousins along country roads to the two room school house. And, school did not end when the cousins returned to Grandma’s. Grandma would have the children continue their studies when they got home. Myrtle would chuckle and say, “I don’t know why Grandma didn’t put all of us out and tell her children, ‘Come and get all your kids.’ ” The love for Paulina was immeasurable and her influence on Myrtle was evident throughout every aspect of her life.

One of Myrtle’s cousins, Victoria Moore, was like a sister and remained her closest friend in adulthood. Both Myrtle and Victoria moved to Seattle in the 1940’s, a decision that led Myrtle into all of our lives.

Those of us with roots in Seattle will recall the Mardi Gras Tavern and Club where local jazz artists performed alongside popular legends. Myrtle was working there one day when a handsome young man stopped by. As the story goes, Myrtle knew right away that this young man and she were meant to be together. This was the beginning of the love story of Roy Monette and Myrtle Alford which lasted until his death in 2012, but the love for him remained until her last breath.

In 1943, Myrtle joined the congregation of the First African Methodist Episcopal Church. For the next eighty years, she participated in several choirs, outreach activities, weekly bible study, fund raisers, etc. Her faith was always the foundation of her life and the source of her values, decisions and actions. Her family would like to interject here, that many a family dinner would get cold while waiting for Myrtle to finish blessing the food.

Myrtle led a life of daily prayer and lived a life of charitable support of others. Her faith was not about reciting words; her faith was her actions.

“Classy Lady” is a term often applied to Myrtle. For a few years, she indulged her interest in clothes and design by helping to create the well-dressed looks to send down the runway at Nordstrom’s fashion shows. So, it’s no surprise that in her own life, she was our fashion model. Classy went beyond clothing as she defined “classy” in every aspect of her words and deeds.

Myrtle’s real career was with Boeing as an airline mechanic, a job she remained with until retirement. Over time Myrtle was assigned the training of new hires and from this we learned how she handled racial tension: “Don’t worry, my color won’t rub off on you. Just learn your job and do it well.”

Family members like to recall that Myrtle’s attire every day at Boeing, as she climbed into a plane’s wing or other cramped space, was a starched, pressed shirt and starched, pressed jeans with a crease. Even when gardening, an activity by which Myrtle produced the prettiest flower gardens in every neighborhood she lived, she still wore pressed shirts and pants.

Myrtle leaves behind the extended families of second cousins Joanne Harvey, Vivian Moore, Bettye Owens and a multitude of other loving relatives and admiring friends spread across the country and overseas. There is a beautiful abundance of cousins, nieces, nephews, Godchildren, children of life long friends for whom she was like another Mother or Auntie, wonderful neighbors in West Seattle, her four Angels who provided love and support as she transitioned…. Joanne Harvey, Vivian Moore, Bettye Owens and niece Lois Frank, and of course, there is her family at First African Methodist Episcopal Church.

As a result of living 105 years, Myrtle Alford Monette completed her work in this life and left us with the memories of a life well lived and a life well loved.

In summary, we believe Myrtle would want her life to be known as one where she lived each day as a servant of Jesus Christ and his teachings.

Funeral Services to be held Tuesday, November 28, 11:00AM at the First AME Church, 1522 14th Ave, Seattle; Committal following, Evergreen Washelli Memorial Park - West Side of Aurora Ave N.