Leora Rae Fletcher

Leora (Lee) was born October 18th, 1931 to James Hillhouse and Nina (Baldridge) Hillhouse in Dayton, WA. She was the fourth daughter and had two half- brothers on her mother’s side from a previous marriage.

She grew up in Dayton, and was a cheerleader and was involved in drama productions while in High School. She graduated from Dayton High School in the class of 1951 and she kept in touch with her classmates throughout her lifetime. She attended Washington State College for one year where she met William (Bill) Bardell. She moved to Seattle and worked at a bank. She and Bill were married on December 6th, 1953. Bill was a Navy Pilot so they moved to San Diego area, California, where Tim and Jim were born. After completing his active duty, they moved to the suburbs of Seattle where Bill and Lee had another son, Dan, and raised their family.

Lee was a devoted mother and a meticulous housekeeper. Bill and Lee had a small acreage with horses. Family activities involved her as a Cub Scout Den Mother for Pack 393, secretary of South Seattle Saddle Club, square dancing, Naval Reserves, Elections Judge, and organizer of many events enriching her family and community. In 1972 a career shift moved the family to Arlington WA, where Lee continued her role as mother and community member. She worked for ten years as a clerk and assistant manager for Coast to Coast Hardware.

Bill died in a plane accident in 1995. The next year Lee and a friend took a trip to Australia and she took several trips back to Dayton WA where she re-met Gary D Fletcher, a former high school acquaintance. They were married in August of 1997 and she moved out to his ranch near Starbuck Washington for 19 years! Gary died unexpectedly in February 2017, and Lee moved to Walla Walla, and then to Olympic Place in Arlington so she could be closer to family.

Lee was preceded in death by her parents, her sisters Dorothy and Myrtle, her half-brothers, Hershel and Harold Slack, and her husbands, William E Bardell and Gary D Fletcher.

She is survived her sons, Timothy Bardell (Ann Glader Bardell), James Bardell, Daniel Bardell. Seven grandsons-Jordan (Lauren), Benjamin (Olya), Phillip(Sheri), Joshua, Jamie(Jessica), Samuel (Megan) and Scott, and one granddaughter Joyanna (Patrick Schad), and nine great-grandchildren who brought her great delight in her last years.

A graveside service will be held in Dayton WA on July 28th, 2017 at 11 a.m. at the Dayton Cemetery, with a meal following for all attendees.

A memorial service in Arlington will take place at her residence (Jim’s house) 25124 27th Ave NE Arlington, WA on Saturday August 5th at 11 a.m.

Arrangements under the direction of Weller Funeral Home, Arlington, WA.