Lucille Browder

She joined her parents George and Edna Ellsworth, and her brother George, and never knew a brother that passed before her arrival.

Lucy spoke of her beginnings on their farm describing the rustic conditions of hauling water, no electricity, caring for farm animals and homemade butter from fresh cream. She described the strength it took her father to provide for six members of his family during the depression and the wars by chopping wood, repairing vehicles, and selling cream. Her mother and father took in her uncles when they had no other home.

Lucy was raised in these conditions of hard labor, poor means, and family loyalty, and never forgot these early lessons. She lived her life with these guidelines of being frugal, contributing all you could to a situation, and taking care of your own.

Even with these challenging beginnings, Lucy spoke with fondness for her parents, and brother, and gave them her first paychecks when she began to work. With her help, they were able to bring electricity to their humble farmhouse, and her dad could then watch his beloved baseball games to her delight. Lucy remained loyal to her parents all her life, often traveling from Olympia to Graham to visit, and towards their final years, took them into her home to care for them.

Lucy attended local schools of Kirby Elementary, and Kapowsin High School. She, spoke often of the value of education and how it changed people’s lives. She loved going to school and learning, and loved her good teachers who had an influence on her life. She was particularly good at math, and proud of it. Her teachers encouraged her to pursue business math which gave her a great beginning towards her later career. She graduated as class salutatorian in 1944.

Often, one story becomes the most important to a person to repeat as they age. As we grew up, we all knew the story of how mom walked to school. People joke about walking both ways to school uphill in the snow. To our mom, the story of walking alone in the big northwest woods, with wild animals roving, for two miles in the rain to catch the bus, was her badge of pride. Perhaps this shaped her philosophy about life, especially when faced with challenges when she stated, “You have to keep moving.” Sometimes she admitted that she was given rides, and that her brother was often with her, but the impression of her youth was one of walking alone, and braving the wilds. Her strong legs carried her far, and even with a knee replacement at age 89, she completed all physical therapy dutifully until she gained back her strength so she could “walk.” Lucy continued to walk upright throughout all the wilds and challenges of life with determination until nine days before her passing.

During this era of youth, growing up fast, working hard, and falling in love, was the forging of a great relationship for both Lucy and Jim. Two unfailing friendships lasted all their lives,-Don and Barb Kendall. Don and Barb had grown up with Jim and Orting, and Lucy fit into their lives like a glove. The four faced life together, bringing each other joy through innumerable visits, outings, childbearing, travel, and support. Clam digging, crabbing, fishing, all required trips in a packed car with gear, boots, sand, tents, and kids.

Many a night we fell asleep to the beautiful sounds of Don and Jim singing into the night, with a beer in hand, harmonizing with tunes such as “Shine on Harvest Moon” and “We’ll Build a Bungalow.” What were Lucy and Barb doing while they sang? They were laughing, talking, cooking and caring for their collective seven children. Barb and Don and their family were and are, responsible for giving Lucy much of the steady love she thrived on all her life. It was Barb and Don’s daughter, Kris, who was present and held her as she succumbed to a major stroke, nine days before she passed. Our family is exceedingly grateful to both Kris and Dave Bartruff, and all the Kendall clan for their life long friendship and loyalty to both Lucy and Jim.

Jim and Lucy faced the world with little to start with, both working hard, attending school and beginning their family with the arrival of Kathy. After Jim’s time at the University of Washington, their lives followed where work was available, in Orting, in Seattle, in Oregon. Finally, Jim and his partner, Dick Burdorff began a lasting partnership running Sea Mart Drug of Olympia and later Olympic Drug. In this time of growth, late nights, and household care, Lucy was devoted to her three kids, Jim and Liz joining Kathy. Lucy often could be found bringing dinner to Jim at the drugstore as he worked late.

Lucy was all in on her homemaking and cooking skills. Her quiet energy focused on making sure we were all fed including delicious homemade bread, and full healthy meals, and packing lunch for us every day for school, carefully wrapping each item in a beautiful fold. Her perfect, large round sugar cookies folded in waxed paper were a delight to find in our lunchboxes. Mom made lunch for all of us, every day of our school lives. All three of her children were sent to school in clothes she had made. Dad’s shirts were pressed every morning with a sprinkling from a coke bottle cork and a hot iron in the kitchen.

But of more renown, was Lucy’s uncanny ability to construct a pie from scratch and come up with the most melt in your mouth crust, surrounding wild blackberries, or northwest apples, or beneath a pile of lemon meringue scrumptiousness. Every party had a Lucy pie. Every visit to our homes was with the expectation that “grandma might make a pie!” It was her signature cooking talent and revered by every child, grandchild. A plate of Lucy’s pie was a marvelous experience and even with her complete instruction by our side, none of us can match it. Her hands held a secret ingredient—Lucy’s love.

Even as a devoted mother, Lucy made time for her neighbors. Often we would return from home to find one or two friends parked at her table for the afternoon. As young people, we didn’t know what all the conversation was about, but as time went by, it became clear that Lucy knew the value of giving her time to friends, and making them feel welcome. Her coffee pot and smile, and easy laugh were great companions to other women, and she often hosted local homemaking clubs, garden clubs, the house filled with the amazing aroma of home baked butter rolls, and beautiful orange jellos and fresh salads.

Her dedication to community extended into taking positions in the Girl Scouts as a public relations officer, attending PTA meetings, and church for a time. Lucy always had a file box near the phone with membership names, and duties written out. Her beautiful but sprawling handwriting covered pages of her phone book and calendar clear up to the end of her life of friends and clubs, their numbers, the next event, and her responsibilities.

Lucy humbly and quietly shouldered through the responsibilities of family life, and accepted most challenges or negative happenings as fate, and tried to make the best of them, often just keeping quiet. In 1975, she could no longer be quiet, and with the help of friends and her mother in law, decided on a new life. Her marriage ended, her children were off to college or work, and Lucy went back to school.

At age forty seven, for two years, Lucy labored for the education she knew would make a difference, and valued the hard work it took. She graduated from Olympia Vocational Technical Institute with an accounting degree. This feat was something she spoke of many times as the years went by, how it changed her life, how grateful she was, and how it rendered her ability to support herself and be independent. Lucy worked for the Washington State Department of Revenue as an accountant from 1976-1989, and for State Parks and Recreation as a part time accountant from 1989-2006. She enjoyed the whole experience and made life long friends.

Another badge of merit for Lucy was her traveling accomplishments through her membership in the Olympia Friendship Force. She spoke frequently of her many trips overseas to countries she never dreamed she would see: England (where she tracked down cousins), Germany, France, Australia, and even Japan, the enemy of her youthful world. Her accounts of being hosted by wonderful people who are “just like us” were inspiring, and energetic. And, in return, she opened her home to foreign visitors, fed them and showed them Mount Saint Helens, our capitol building, and took them shopping in American malls. Lucy collected even more friends, around the globe.

Lucy was active in many area clubs and activities including: Friendship Force of Olympia, Friendly Garden Club, Tumwater Valley Ladies Niners golf club, Bridge club, Shumate Orthopedic Guild. She served in each club as an officer or supporting member, devoting herself to these causes and giving her time willingly.

You can accurately gather that Lucy was loved by many. She was a dependable, good friend, a smiling presence, always interested in what you were doing, always bright and available. When she suffered a small stroke in 2003? our family was caring for her at home. The phone calls that came every five minutes to wish her well had to be curbed so she could rest.

How many of us can say, our minds remain bright as we progress? A telling tale, Lucy was able to beat us all at scrabble games throughout her whole life, and that included a month before her departure. Jim spent many hours after settling her business on his visits, trying to defeat her. Kathy and I played online scrabble for years with Mom, and her steady winning could be annoying.  She was quite happy with herself with every victory as well she should have been.

She was determined to stay in Olympia, and she did. Jim took on many a discussion with Lucy, many hours of care and driving from Bellingham to tend to her business, as she felt this was her home, and had no desire to leave. Mom was a northwest girl, through and through. Growing up on the shoulders of Mount Rainier, this wild region was in her blood. Hunting wild blackberries, getting cold and wet on the Pacific beaches with her hand in a hole pursuing razor clams, hunting wild morel and chanterelle mushrooms, and even cooking Dad’s frog legs were adventures she loved. Her wine from Harstene Island grapes was a little bitter, but we drank it! The Olympia Farmer’s Market was a favorite spot to visit, giving her a chance to see all the northwest fare of fruits and vegetables, and seafood. Lucy’s Mud Bay oyster feeds were unforgettable, at a well set table complete with special plates and glasses, as were every family meal.

Kathy spoke to Mom every Sunday faithfully, or visited while she lived here. Kathy knew the love and determination of Mom and her “Sunday opinions.” Liz moved to a remote part of Washington, and Lucy made sure to visit a couple times a year, driving alone over passes, riding into the mountains on a ferry and visiting and helping on each grandchild’s arrival. Her determination to keep moving kept us challenged and in awe of her abilities. Jim looked after Mom in her final years, visiting as much as possible, playing scrabble and betting on the winner of the Seahawks games.

Lucy’s outlook on life as a journey of challenge, determination, doing your part, being loyal, smiling, and the directive to” keep moving,” have given us a legacy to revere. Our hearts are extremely saddened to know she is gone. Her steady presence is missed more than we can say, and her unfailing generosity and kindness leave a large gap in our lives as we say goodbye to this adored, gentle woman. Ninety one years is a long, good time on this earth, and even though it was time to go, we would have loved to keep walking with her for much longer. Undoubtedly, she walks in a fine place now and has received her reward.

Mom would want us to thank you all for your friendship, your love, your support, and would want to sit and visit with each and every one of you, and serve you a piece of pie. We cannot possibly duplicate her selflessness or her dedication to each of you. We do extend our heartfelt thanks for being a part of her life, for helping her smile, and for regarding her with the love she deserved.

Sincerely,

Lucy’s Family

Lucy is survived by her three children: Kathryn Brown, Spokane, Wa; James Browder, Jr, Bellingham, Wa; Elizabeth Courtney, Stehekin Wa.

Her nine grandchildren: James Brown, Jennifer Graves, Chelsea Courtney, Reed Courtney, Warren Courtney, Simon Courtney, Trevor Browder, Shelly James, Gavin Browder,

And, four great grandchildren: Morgan Brown, Parker Brown, Kylan Courtney, Sadie Courtney.

Lucille Edna (Ellsworth) Browder, age 91, of Olympia, Washington passed away on January 26th, 2018 at Providence St. Peter’s Hospital in Olympia following a major stroke. She passed peacefully in the presence of her grandchildren in the early morning.

If you would like to honor Lucy’s life with a donation, her choices would be:

Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation

Seattle Children’s Orthopedic Hospital

American Heart Association