Lovelia Lorraine Case

Lovelia Case, widow of Robert Case, passed away on December 26, 2016. She was 96 years old. Lovelia was born to Minnie and William H. Gregory on October 9, 1920, on a wheat and cattle ranch in Lewistown, Montana. She was the youngest of six children. Like most of their neighbors the disastrous wheat and cattle prices of the 1920s forced them to sell their ranch. Her family moved to Ellensburg in 1929 when she was nine years old.

She graduated from Ellensburg High School in 1938 and attended Central Washington College of Education. She married Robert Case in 1942 and they moved to Washington, DC, where he was stationed as a Navy officer and she worked for the British Admiralty. It was in Washington that their son, Robert II, was born. The Navy moved the family to New York City for the last two years of World War II.

Bob and Lovelia moved back to Ellensburg after World War II where Robert was offered the position of Assistant City Treasurer. After their daughter, Deborah, was born in 1948. Lovelia remained a housewife until her two children were out of grade school. She found time to volunteer in the community as a room mother at Lincoln School, Blue Bird leader and Cub Scout den mother. She later worked for Taylor Richardson Clinic for 12 years. She retired from the clinic and sold real estate for her husband’s firm, Thayer-Case Realtors. During these years she found relaxation in her golf game.

Lovelia volunteered for community activities, including Laughing Horse Theater, Ellensburg Chamber of Commerce, Clymer Gallery and Museum of Art, Rigadoon Dance Club, First Lutheran Church and Ellensburg Study Club.

In later years, Lovelia and Bob did extensive traveling, spending winter weeks in California and Arizona. As she grew older she preferred to stay home and garden and entertain with the motto: “The coffee is always on.” She loved her husband, children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. She said they were her life and everything she ever wanted.

She is survived by children: Robert II (Katherine) Case, Deborah (Joseph) Aimone; grandchildren, Leif (Caroline) Shelstad and Courtney (Joseph) Bourland, Karissa (Nathaniel) Taylor and Angela (Joshua) Suich and nine great grandchildren, as well as several nieces and nephews. Lovelia’s husband, Bob, died December 10, 2015.

A memorial service has been scheduled for Thursday, 29th at 10:00 am at the First Lutheran Church, 512 North Ruby Street, Ellensburg. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Kittitas Valley Community Hospital or Hospice.

Arrangements under the direction of Steward & Williams Tribute Center, Ellensburg, WA.