Nella Zey Kolze

Nella Zey Allen was born in Danbury, Nebraska on February 6th, 1922. She was the 12th and youngest child born to Arthur Allen and Bessie Springer. Anyone that knew her well called her Zey. The family owned a cow named Nellie and she did not want to be mixed up with that cow. The name Nella was also her last name spelled backwards. Her father read the name Zey in a book and that special name has been passed down to her daughter, granddaughter and great granddaughter. Her father used to joke that they had run out of names with her being the baby of twelve.

Zey graduated from High School in Danbury in a class of 8 students in 1939. She then joined other family members in Boise, Idaho where she attended business school as she called it. She worked there as a secretary until she relocated to the Seattle area in 1950 to be near her sister Kay. In early 1952 she met the love of her life Paul Kolze . After only 2 months they were married. Paul used to joke that he proposed to her because she wore a fur coat so he thought she was rich, only to find out later that she actually owed her sister $20.

They settled in West Seattle where Paul’s brother John and sister Elsie lived . Zey continued to reside in West Seattle until her passing on December 7th, 2020. She worked as a secretary for many years. The last 15 years of her career were spent with the Seattle school District where she worked at Chief Sealth High School and finally the Youth Service Center School.

After retiring Zey spent 33 years as a volunteer at the West Seattle Senior Center where she answered phones or worked in the Stop and Shop. She enjoyed riding on the senior center bus twice a month to local casinos where she liked to play the slots.

Zey was quite a bowler. She continued to bowl twice a week until she turned 98. Even after a hip fracture and a broken wrist she always returned to bowling.

Zey was an avid sports fan. She enjoyed supporting the Seattle Seahawks, Mariners and especially the Washington Huskies Football Team where she was a long time season ticket holder.

Hosting family celebrations and get togethers was also something she enjoyed doing. You had better come hungry as Zey would make sure everyone had enough to eat even if you thought you were full she would encourage and convince you to eat more. Some of her specialties were roast beef with mashed potatoes and homemade gravy, red cabbage for Thanksgiving, cookies for Christmas, potato salad and her delicious red velvet cake.

Although somewhat on the quiet side. She was an integral part of many lives and she will be missed

For those who are unable to attend Zey's funeral service, please click the following link to watch it in real time.

https://www.oneroomstreaming.com/view/authorise.php?k=160767637289903