Mrs. Annette Chipper Lee Nelson Menzia

Annette Menzia, 73, passed away unexpectedly at home February 12th, 2010. She was born January 17th, 1937 to Manford and Maxine Nelson in Indianapolis, Indiana. They moved to California and lived there for a time before moving up to Zillah, Wa., where they remained for the rest of her childhood. She studied music, and was trained to sing, as well as play the piano and trumpet.

While she was in college she met the man of her dreams, Ray Menzia, on a blind date. Less than a year later, they eloped and began their journey of love together.

Ray taught school and coached while Annette became a homemaker and mother. She returned to finish her college in the 1980’s with a degree in education. She spent many years working as a substitute teacher in the West Valley school system, as well as coaching alongside her husband in track and field and cross country.

Ray and Annette impacted the lives of many young people in their years of coaching at West Valley Junior High, Eisenhower High School, and Carroll High School. They founded the West Yakima Ramblers track club, and ran it for over a decade.

She will best be remembered by her family and friends as a loving, caring, and giving person who had a quick wit and an extraordinary relationship with her best friend and partner of 49 years.

She is survived in death by her husband, Ray Menzia of Yakima, sister Gloria Draggoo of Vancouver, WA., daughter Cathy Curry of Helena, Montana, son Todd Menzia of Yakima, daughter Meaghan Phelps of Yakima, son Conrad Menzia of Tulsa, Oklahoma, 6 grandchildren, 3 great grandchildren, and two nieces.

Annette is preceded in death by her parents, Manford and Maxine Nelson.

A memorial service will be held at 1:00 p.m. Friday, February 19, 2010 at the Keith & Keith Terrace Heights Chapel. To celebrate the life of Annette and share a memory visit www.mem.com.