Etta Marie Peplow

Etta was born on January 31, 1934, in Yakima, Washington to Raymond Clarence Franklin and Mabel Valera Orsborn. She was the fifth of Franklin’s five children: Larry, Harold, Jessie, Laura and Etta. There were 19 years between her and her oldest brother.

Her earliest recollection was living on the Figure2 Ranch in Eastern Washington. There was no plumbing and she created toys out of sticks and items around the ranch. During the school year she and her mother would drive 30 miles each weekend to the nearest town, Beverly. Her older sister, Laura, lived there during the week to go to the one-room schoolhouse.

When Etta was about six years old the family moved to Alaska Street in Columbia City, Seattle, Washington. At the end of World War II when she was about eleven, the family moved to Kent, Washington. They had purchased 10 acres in the country that included a house made with two miners shacks put together. Her father put a bathroom in. The property also had an acre of blueberries.

It was at this time the family attended Renton Assembly of God church. Etta excelled in memorizing scripture verses. During one sermon, the pastor paused for effect while reading Ecclesiastes 3 and she stood and finished it for him to the delight of the congregation. Although she walked away from organized religion, she acknowledged God was guiding and blessing her through her life.

On April 12, 1952, Etta married Murray Peplow in Tacoma, Washington. They were married for 22 years and joyfully welcomed Dan Peplow on March 14, 1953. She and Murray managed the mobile home park they lived in and she cleaned needles on the graveyard shift at Central Supply at Tacoma General Hospital. At that time hospital practice was to clean and reuse needles. She also enjoyed sticking her head into patients’ rooms to say Hi and something that would make them smile.

In about 1955 she was hired as the office manager and bookkeeper for Zale’s Jewelers in Renton, Washington where she worked for several years. She didn’t tell them she had not finished 8th grade but had taught herself ten-key, worked hard, and learned on the job.

Etta and Murray divorced in July 1975, and her restaurant management career began at the Sundowner Restaurant in the Tri-Cities, Washington. She had the first of three heart attacks managing a restaurant in Kennewick. Next, she moved to Yakima and was one of only two female route saleswomen working for a restaurant supply company.

Her life adventures next sent her to Oxnard, California where she was General Manager for a Denny’s Restaurant for many years. She created a computer program to organize her food and supply usage and ordering. Her restaurant won several awards. This was when she first became interested in technology and was on the cutting edge of it throughout her life.

The Hilton in Phoenix, Arizona was her next chapter. She worked at the front desk at Tocasierra Fitness Centre, part of the Hilton Corporation. She is remembered as being very professional and fantastic dealing with customers with her hospitality skills, always interested in where people were from and made sure they were having a good time. During this time she began her world travels.

Missing her family, Etta moved back to Seattle. At first she lived downtown on Third and Pine above McDonalds and worked at Macy’s for a number of years until she got the “best job she ever had” at the Seattle Convention Center. This job was made for her – she got to talk to people all day long and the variety of conventions fed her curiosity. As a manager she worked there until she was 87 years old.

During this time she moved to her apartment at Truewood at Merrill Gardens. She felt this was her second family and they enjoyed her stories, love of sports, sassy attitude, and crocheted towels. She had two sayings she lived by at Merrill Gardens: “I don’t care if you laugh at me, or with me, or because of me, as long as you laugh,” and “Attitude is everything, so pick a good one.” Her final job title was a promotion to Regional Resident Troublemaker at Merrill Gardens, which she was very proud of.

One of the joys of her life was when Rod, her son she had to give up for adoption, found her and they got to build a relationship. She was extremely proud of her family, both immediate and extended, and bragged and showed pictures of them at every chance.

Etta lived life to the fullest. In her lifetime she went to 22 countries and 44 states, learned how to fly, had 17 different jobs, and three different Mustang convertibles. She researched family history on the ground and on the computer as well as attending 80+ Orsborn family reunions. She knit sweaters and crocheted kitchen towels that she gave away to friends, family and missionaries in 4 different countries. Some were sold at craft fairs. She collected approximately 400 elephant figurines and was a competitive horsewoman. Many times she expressed how grateful she was to God for all the people and opportunities she had in her life.

Etta is survived by her sons, Rod Boland (Karen) and Dan Peplow (Sarah); grandchildren Bailey Huyett (JB), Casey Peplow, Myka Peplow, Angie Boland, Crystal Stewart, and Matt Boland; great-grandchildren Arlo Huyett, Ziggy Huyett, Oliver Peplow, Alec Boland and Dawson Boland; great-great grandson Aiden; nieces: Kathleen Champoux, Roberta Hinson, Darla Jean Chiaramonte, Shirley Robbins, Peggy Kettleson, Sue Hoffman, Anne Turner and Nancy Davis; and nephews: Roger Franklin, Bob Peterson and Scott Nowitzki.

Etta was preceded in death by her parents Raymond and Mable Franklin; four siblings, Larry Franklin, Harold Franklin (Elsie), Jessie Peterson (Arnold) and Laura Nowitzki Robinson (Don); nephews, Donnie Franklin and Herb Franklin and niece, Judy Peterson.

Internment will be at the Wenas Pioneer Cemetery, 11440 N Wenas Rd, Selah, Washington on January 31, 2026, at 11:30 am.