Leona Kay Boddington

Her mother, Virginia Howell, gave birth to Leona on May 17, 1948, in Townsend, Montana. She lived her first 18 years in White Sulphur Springs, Montana with her mother, her older sister and brother, Janice and Leslie Howell. When Virginia married Don Girton, three more children were added to the family, Kenny, Neal and Margaret.

Leona was born with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, a rare congenital condition which caused her to suffer many injuries due to the connective skin and joint tissue issues that affected her whole body. Simple childhood scratches, bumps and bruises caused extreme wounds that took extended time to heal. Her mother sought safe activities in which Leona could participate and interact with the rest of the kids. At Virginia’s request, Leona’s cousin Judy, who lived nearby, and some other girls, started a safe activity indoor club. One of their favorite things to do was to weave potholders made on homemade looms built by Leona’s Uncle Vic. Leona also became a Rainbow girl and was awarded the Grand Cross of Colors.

In 1966 Leona graduated from White Sulphur Springs High School. Following graduation, she attended Business school in Helena, learning the 1960s version of data entry. She tried to find a job using her new skills around Helena but had no luck, so she returned home.

Then came an opportunity for Leona that changed her life forever. A family friend, Armetta Gwin, who lived in Seattle, had her two young daughters visiting her mother, their grandmother, in White Sulphur Springs. Armetta called Leona and said if she would chaperone the girls Julie and Lori back to Seattle she would pay for her airplane ticket. Leona accepted immediately and never looked back.

In 1967 Leona gave herself to medical research at the University of Washington. According to the doctors there, they made a big breakthrough in Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome with her skin biopsy. She even participated in medical school where up to 250 medical students would poke and prod Leona to see if they could figure out exactly what she had. She endured all of this with patience along with a gritty determination to help others born with the same condition.

On May 1, 1971, Leona met her husband, Jeff Boddington, on a blind date at a drive-in movie with the couple who introduced them.

A couple of months later in August of 1971, Leona made her first trip to Alaska, coming to Cordova to see Jeff where he worked on a boat. He told her the weather was usually great that time of year, but that summer it rained almost every day. Still, Leona had a wonderful time, having her first small float plane ride out to an island in Prince William Sound, and driving a three-wheeler.

When Jeff returned to Seattle in September, they continued dating. In December, Leona took him home to meet her family in White Sulphur Springs, Montana. Two years later on July 7, 1973, they were married there.

In January 1974, Leona and Jeff moved to Seward, Alaska, where they lived for ten months in the coldest house in town. When her brother Neal Girton visited, they played Scrabble on the open oven door to stay warm. The second rental house was much nicer and warmer with a new furnace. They lived there until August 1976 when they moved back to the Pacific Northwest for medical reasons.

In 1978, Leona returned to Alaska to help Jeff as a partner and to operate an 86-foot boat, the Brown Bear. She did the cooking, stood wheel watches, and kept the books while the boat was involved in transporting salmon from the fishing grounds to processing plants in different ports all over Alaska.

Leona was very savvy when it came to operating the vessel. In windy conditions, she would maneuver it into a safe anchorage and direct a deckhand to drop the anchor down in a place where it wouldn’t drag.

On July 4, 1979, in Prince William Sound, Alaska, the boat caught fire, necessitating to abandon ship. Leona missed the life raft and fell into the frigid water but was saved by her survival suit and eventually brought safely into the raft. Even after that terrifying experience, she still went to sea just to be with Jeff for months at a time, proving how brave she was and how much she loved him.

In 1977 they had their first home built in Lake Forest Park near Seattle, Washington. Eleven years later they sold that home and moved to Edmonds, WA for another 11 years, then purchased a home on Vashon Island where they lived for four years. In 2004 they moved to Olympia, Washington.

She was preceded in death by her mother, Virginia Girton, her stepfather Don Girton, her brothers Neil Girton (1977) and Leslie Howell (2005), and her beloved dog Elby.

Leona’s favorite color was yellow. This was shown in her sunny disposition and her bright and cheerful demeanor; even on the days when she was suffering with pain, she would courageously keep her positive attitude.

Leona loved her life and her husband Jeffrey, her family and friends. She had the most beautiful smile which made her face glow with the kind and lovely spirit within her. She had faith in God and the power of prayer. She will be deeply missed by all whose lives she touched.

Arrangements are by Mills and Mills Funeral Home in Tumwater, Washington. At her request, there will be no memorial service.

Thoughts and memories of Leona may be written online at www.dignitymemorial.com on the memorial page of Leona Kay Boddington in a Memorial Book for the family.