Grace Elizabeth Haynes

The Roaring Twenties, and the second daughter, Grace Elizabeth, was born, joining her sister, Mary Jane and her parents, Otto and Marie Lepsch, in the Green Lake neighborhood in Seattle, Washington. These two little girls were the joys of their parents and their neighbors. When they lost their Mother in their early teens, Otto raised them by himself. Both girls, but especially Grace, received the love and guidance from neighbors who were friends of Otto's. Grace loved to tell her son, Tommy about the Good Old Days whenever he asked.

Little Gracie was meant to be. She enjoyed her childhood friends and despite surviving Scarlett Fever and going through a car windshield in an accident on the University Bridge, she skipped the third grade and graduated from Lincoln High School in 1938. Her first job was as a secretary to an attorney in the Smith Tower, endearing herself to his wife by cleaning out all the booze bottles stashed in the closet. At a slumber party with her girlfriend chums, a Ouija Board foretold of her meeting and marrying a boy, E. H.. During the War, at the Donald Duck ring toss at the USO, Enos Haynes was introduced to her and the Fates smiled knowingly. They wed July 21, 1945 and began a 63 year journey through Life picking up a daughter, three boys, eight grandchildren, and six great grandchildren and numerous dogs and cats along the way.

Aunt Dot was an old neighbor who loved Little Gracie and shared in her life for more than seventy-some-odd years. She was there when Grace's mother died, bought Grace's blue taffeta graduation dress, and she and her three sisters enjoyed all of Grace and Enos' four children and all the events that living and loving brings. As a Mom, Grace participated in the Girl Scouts, Cub Scouts, Lake Burien Presbyterian Church, PTA, March of Dimes, and Elections as she set the example for her family as they grew. Being married to a life-long farmer from Alabama, she was a force to be reckoned with in the kitchen, preserving the bounty from the Earth and feeding her growing tribe. Her sewing, knitting, garden and kitchen tasks never kept her from running a well-managed and economical house and home.

Lake Burien Presbyterian Church was a keystone in the Haynes' family home. She and Enos were very active with the Windjammers, a family fellowship group at LBPC. Camping, Parties, Service projects and Fellowship were the activities with which they bonded with a large circle of friends. Grace sang in the Cathedral Choir while her little troop worked their ways up from the Carol Choir. Thursday night was Choir Rehearsal and she seldom missed it. She went back to work when her little ones were in Junior High. She first assisted in the office at the church and then blossomed into The Church Secretary eventually supporting two pastors, the Sunday school and Church Bulletin and let's not forget the years of Ski Lessons & Snow Buses the church also sponsored. She retired with Honors after many years with a huge retirement reception.

She and her Enos loved to travel to Hawaii with friends. Many times they went back to Alabama to visit The Haynes Clan of eight brothers, three sisters and a rabbit host of nieces, nephews, and subsequent family tree branches. Her letter writing and Christmas cards were loved by all the relatives. She was the strongest link in the lines of communication within the family. Sometimes a letter could contain a shorthand squiggle that she would have to translate later. Each year in July the brood was gathered to pose for the Annual Christmas Picture Card. The squirming battle always paid off, creating a beautiful photo history of childhood growth.

Grace has always been the core of the family. Devoted to her loving Enos, she loved and is loved by each child and person blessed enough to know her. Love and Laughter are her languages with which she communicates. Her eyes convey her thoughts now but still her love shines through and will warm and comfort her family and friends forevermore.

Peacefully, in her sleep, Grace departed this Earth, Tuesday, February 24th about 6 AM. Mark, Jim and Tom were with her. Services to be announced.