Elizabeth Gayle Huse

Elizabeth “Betsy” G. Huse was born on December 4, 1941, Elizabeth G. Merrifield. She was born to John C.F. and Rosemary Merrifield in Portland, OR and attended Duniway Elementary and Cleveland High School where she graduated in 1959. Scott Losk was born in March 1961 and Mary Jean Losk was born in September 1962. With her special talent for making close friends with complete strangers, she was able to create community wherever she lived including Eugene, OR, Ann Arbor, MI, Thousand Oaks, CA, Bellevue, WA, Lynnwood, WA, Marysville, WA and Arlington, WA. She cultivated lifelong friendships and had the unique ability to make anyone she was talking to feel like they were the most interesting and important person in her life.

Over the years, Betsy developed a passion for all things related to plants and gardening and began her nursery career at Furney’s Nursery in Bellevue, WA. On June 1, 1977, she married Fred Huse and together they owned and operated Cascade Nursery in Marysville, WA for over two decades. Fred and Betsy were well-known and loved in the Marysville area for providing personal service and professional advice for avid and novice gardeners alike.

They retired to their cabin on Lake Ki in 2004 where they continued their passion for gardening, antiquing, and spending time with family and friends. Fred predeceased Betsy in August 2016, and she continued to stay close and connected to her children Scott (Annika), Mary Jean, Don (Caroline), and Sally. She was especially close to her grandchildren Ian and Tess as well as Carley, Joseph and Peter, and step-grandchildren Colin, Abigail and Bryce.

Betsy will forever be remembered for her passion for plants, reading, quilting, needlework, and all animals (especially her pets). Her final days were spent gardening with her daughter. She was a loving mother, grandmother, spouse, daughter, sister and friend and we will all miss her very much.