Lula “Chris” Leverett passed away at Cottage in the Meadow in Yakima on March 18, 2019. She was born in Yakima on July 14, 1932 to Ida and Ernest Stillings, the youngest of three children. She spent the early years of her life in Tieton, Washington where her parents had a small orchard on Naches Heights.
At age ten her father drowned in a boating accident and she moved with her mother to Yakima where she attended McKinley Elementary, Franklin Junior High, and graduated from Yakima High School in the class of 1950. She attended Washington State College for two years where she met her future husband, James “Jim” Leverett. They were married in the Chapel on the Main Post at Fort Benning, Ga. on October 4, 1952. After Jim returned from overseas service they began their married life in Seattle where their children were born, Gil Scott in 1955 and Carol Lynn in 1956. From Seattle they followed Jim’s banking career to Yakima, then to Ellensburg and finally to Chehalis where they spent the last 29 years before retirement. They chose to return to Yakima for their retirement years.
Family activities in the early years were participating in the kids events and time spent at their beach property in Port Ludlow. During the high school years they had a sail boat on Puget Sound. In retirement there was foreign travel, cruises, and many family gatherings.
Chris was devoted to her family and friends. She was proud of her children and grandchildren and followed their accomplishments along the way. She was a true people person, a joiner and a belonger who participated and contributed in some way to every organization she belonged to. She was a member of First Presbyterian Church (now Grace Of Christ), PEO, Womens Century Club, and Newcomers and Friends. She enjoyed an exercise class at Harmon Center and a reading group at the West Valley Library as well as activities in her condo community. Her days were active and full with seldom a blank day on her calendar. She leaves a legacy of a life well lived, with a warm smile, a positive attitude, a loving family and many friends.
She is preceded in death by her parents, sister Belle Bowers, brother John Stillings and son Guilford Scott Leverett. She is survived by her husband James G. Leverett, daughter Carol O’Brien (Pete), and granddaughters Kathleen Allensworth (Jordan), Patricia O’Brien and Molly O’Brien.
A Celebration of Life will take place on Saturday, April 27th at 11:00 AM at Grace of Christ Presbyterian Church, 9 South 8th Ave., Yakima.
Keith & Keith Funeral Home is handling arrangements.
