Elaine S. Rankin

with her when she died.

Elaine was born November 20, 1918 in Salt Lake City. Her childhood was traumatic and left her longing for true love which she found in her husband, Wilbur Rankin. They met at the Messenger Sign Company where they both worked. They had a very romantic courtship and married on Valentine's Day in 1939. Wilbur preceded her in death in 1997 after 58 years of marriage.

Elaine is survived by a very large family: five children: Arlene Fowler, Margaret Anne Calkins, Thomas Rankin Donna, Jean Schreiner Tom, and David Rankin Laura, fourteen grandchildren; and sixteen great-grandchildren. When the whole family was together, mom would just shake her head at the chaos - which we pointed out to her was all her fault! She was preceded in death by her grandson, Eric Fowler, her parents George and Hazel Smith, and her brother, George Smith, Jr.

During her lifetime, Elaine's greatest joys were spending time with her family, playing pinochle, traveling the world, square dancing with the Bucks and Does, and serving others - especially abused woman and the homeless. She was a member of Ravenna Methodist Church for 35 years and later, Olympic

View Community Church for 26 years. We tried to count the trips she took and the number of countries she visited and we think it was around 26!

In an epistle she left the family she stated, "I have had an extremely full life; a life full of challenges, problems, happiness and sadness and at this time, contentment. All in all, a good life."

We thank Archstone Adult Family Home in Renton for their wonderful, loving care of our mother during her last months. The staff at Archstone went out of their way on a daily basis to provide Elaine with the delights of her life; books to read, her favorite foods, her own comfortable chair in the front window and a spot on the deck just for her during the warm summer months.

In lieu of flowers, remembrances in Elaine's name may be made to her church, Olympic View Community Church 425 NE 95th St. Seattle, WA 98115 or to the Broadview Emergency Shelter, 1501 N. 45th St. Seattle, WA 98103-6708, a cause she firmly believed in supporting.