Juanita Pearl Buell

Juanita was born to Vinyard and Edith Stark on April 23, 1923, in Gold Bar, Washington and was the middle child of three siblings. She graduated from Sulton Union High School in 1941. On April 23, 1956, she married the love of her life, Alfred L. Buell, and they resided together in their home in Seattle for over fifty years until Juanita’s illness made it necessary for her to move into an adult family home last May. She and Alfred were blessed with 58 years of marriage, celebrating that milestone in April of this year.

She was preceded in death by her parents Vinyard and Edith Stark, younger brother Orville Stark, and older sister Marguerite Soley Valentine. She is survived by her husband, Alfred, nieces Judy Soley Perron, Barbara Soley Watson, Joy Soley Richford, Donna Morin, Dolores Buell, and nephew David Parcell.

Employed as a meat packer, Juanita worked for Hormel for 24 years before retiring to pursue other interests. Gardening was one of her favorite activities, and she spent countless hours in her yard. Camping was another activity she loved, and she and Alfred travelled often in their AirStream trailer, visiting many different places and catching some fish along the way. She was an avid sports fan, enjoying Seattle Mariner and Seahawk games, as well as other sports, and was thrilled when on their 45th wedding anniversary, her niece Barbara took them to a Mariners game and arranged for the score board at Safeco Field to announce to all in attendance that it was their special day.

Juanita also loved to do things for her family, throwing countless bridal, wedding, and baby showers, as well as birthday and anniversary parties. Christmases were always extra special when a jolly “Aunt Nita,” dressed up complete with Santa suit and snowy white beard, surprised the children of the family with toys and presents. The smell of bacon and eggs, hash browns, and pancakes cooking on the old cook stove in Edmonds Park was an early morning tradition every Fourth of July, as Juanita fried up the Hormel bacon she so generously provided for the special breakfast every year. After the parade, lunch always included other Hormel goodies thrown on the barbeque.

Friday night hair appointments at JC Penney at Northgate Mall spanned decades without fail, and Juanita always made sure she looked her best before she left the house. Makeup and lots of jewelry were her trademark, as well as her beautiful smile which lit up the room. Juanita’s sense of humor and quick wit, along with her hilarious facial expressions, kept us all in stitches, and one of her standard answers when asked “How do you feel?” was “With my fingers!”

A celebration of Juanita’s life will be held on Sunday, September 7, at 12:00 noon, at Purdy & Walters at Floral Hills, 409 Filbert Road, Lynnwood, followed by a reception at the same location. Remembrances may be made in Juanita’s memory to PAWS.