Vibrant. If there were one word to describe Lila, it would be vibrant. And lively. And active. And always on the go. There really isn’t just one word to describe her, but a whole exciting lifetime of words.
Lila Elizabeth (Jones) Kennedy died on July 2, 2012. She is best remembered as an energetic woman who loved purple, hummingbirds, roller skating, horseback riding, dancing, and bright-colored clothes with the coolest matching jewelry and shoes. Always the optimist, she was a whirlwind of excitement who, despite any trouble she came across, made a very conscious choice to be happy. After her 39th birthday, Lila declared she would be 39 forever, and she sure lived like it. In February 2012, Lila celebrated her fiftieth 39th birthday!
Lila Elizabeth Jones was born on February 28, 1923 in Basin, Wyoming to Clarence and Bernice (Jessen) Jones. The oldest of three children, Lila is survived by her sister, Martha Ellen (Jones) Vater, and brother, Stafford Byron Jones. The family moved to Seattle, Washington in 1928 driving a Model T Ford, and Lila was a Washingtonian ever since.
Lila accepted Christ at a young age, and often attended Sammamish Bible Camp in the summer. Lila graduated from Highline High School in 1941. It was on a blind date that she met Bob McCready. Lila and Robert (Bob) McCready eloped on November 6, 1942 just before Bob was off to serve in the Army Air Corps during World War II. Lila’s first daughter, Judith Anne (McCready) Musgrave was born in 1943. While her husband served in the War, Lila was ever busy. She worked at Van De Kamp’s bakery and the Longacres Racetrack to purchase a house in Skyway. Bob returned from the War in 1945. Their second daughter Linda Diane (McCready) Bailey was born in 1948, and their youngest daughter, Sandra Lynn (McCready) Ruff was born in 1950.
In 1950, Bob, Lila and their family moved to Yacolt, Washington where Bob worked for the Marenakos Logging Company. Lila was always working. In Yacolt, Lila worked for Benge’s Grocery Store, served as PTA president at the school, and also wrote articles regarding the Yacolt community for the Vancouver newspaper. When the family followed Marenakos to Morton, Washington in 1957, Lila worked for Sather’s store, and later for the Morton Mineral School District as Bookkeeper and Secretary for the Superintendent.
Lila did everything fast. Her catch-phrase “Gotta go” describes exactly that: she was a whirlwind of activity, and was always dashing off somewhere. It has been described that Lila was the colorful kite blowing in the wind, and Bob was her anchor.
Between 1976 and 1978, Bob and Lila built a new home in Silvercreek, Washington. Lila was the primary designer of the home, and designed the house with a big goal in mind: to be a place where her daughters and their families could gather. Lila was a wonderful cook, and loved preparing meals for the family gatherings. In designing her kitchen, she arranged for two ovens because just one would not do, as well as an extra refrigerator and freezer.
She loved hosting and planning grand events. Everyone in Lila’s family remembers the huge family gatherings: all the Christmases and Thanksgivings, the Morton Logger’s Jubilee, the birthdays and the just-becauses. Lila’s house was the one full of lots of family, lots of laughter, and lots of good food. Her house always smelled like good food cooking. No matter how late you arrived she would be awake and trying to get you to eat something before you went off to bed. Lila’s house was always full of fun, wonder, celebration and lots of people.
Bob and Lila were fond of traveling. They traipsed to and from the Southwest annually, and went on more than one cross-country road trip. The song “I’ve Been Everywhere” might as well have been written about their treks. They enjoyed trips to many places including Mexico, Hawaii, Washington D.C., Nashville, San Diego, Texas, and many more states. She and Bob would attend heavy equipment and collector car shows all over the country. Bob and Lila particularly loved Yuma, Arizona, where they spent their time sunning, swimming, bicycling, shopping, and all-around relaxing and enjoying retirement. Their stays in Yuma grew longer and longer with each passing year.
One of their favorite vacation spots was Seaside, Oregon. Seaside is a wonderful little coastal town that was far enough away to feel like a vacation, yet close enough that Bob and Lila’s children and grandchildren could come with. Adventures at Seaside are always happily recounted memories at family gatherings.
Bob McCready died September 22, 1988. They had been married 46 years. More and more, Lila would try and bring a little bit of Yuma back with her when she returned home. It started with the grapefruit, and dates, and limes picked from the fruit trees growing in the front yard of their Yuma home. Then cactuses of all kinds, and aloe vera plants that she would give away as gifts. Pretty soon, Lila had a sunroom built to perfectly mimic the desert she loved, complete with a hot tub.
At age 69, Lila decided she wanted to re-marry. Lila married Ernest James (Jim) Kennedy on May 9, 1992. Jim was a truck driver and could share Lila’s love of traveling. They continued trekking to and from Yuma, Mexico, and beyond well into Lila’s late seventies.
Lila was a strong, positive role-model to her whole family. She will be loved and missed by her daughters: Judi, grandchildren Dove and Ron, and great-grandchildren Akeyla, Jessie, Alyssa, Jonathan, Daniel and Kiara; Linda and Frank, grandchildren Kyle, Kelsey, Kaeli and Korrie, and great-grandchildren Lily, Lila, Presley and (coming soon) Maverick; Sandi and Larry, grandchildren Courtney and Robert, and Cindy and great-grandchildren Malea, Elijah and Brinlee and Christopher (now deceased).
May she rest in peace.
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