Ethel LaVonne Bennett

Ethel LaVonne (Betts) Bennett, age 82, passed peacefully in her sleep early morning March 7th, 2014. Ethel spent the last weeks of her life at home, assisted by the services offered by Hospice, lovingly cared for mostly by her family.

Ethel is survived by her sister; Ardith Atikinson (Robert); Brother; Gerald Betts (Pat), children; Wesley, Gloria Strege (Randy), Paul (Chanell), Melinda Ogilvie (Bob), the grandchildren she adored; Tyler Strege, Brianna Strege, Evan Mitchell, Mackenzie Mitchell, Hunter Mitchell, Charlotte Bennett and Madison Bennett and her great grandson; “Baby Josh”, Joshua Olson. “Aunt Ethel” was loved and adored by many nieces and nephews. Ethel is preceded in death by her loving husband of 45 years; J.E. Bennett (1930 – 1998). Ethel is also preceded in death by her sisters; Ruby, Helen, Mildred, Mary Lou and brother; Keith.

Ethel was born in the dust bowl of the thirties in Des Moines, Iowa January 22, 1932. Her family left the Midwest to begin anew when Ethel was a young child, then making their family homestead in the Rose Hill area of Kirkland. In 1941, at the age of nine, Ethel lost her Mother to cancer and began to tend to the care of younger siblings. Never quite recovering from the great depression, Ethel and her family lived a simple life. Ethel attended Rose Hill Schools. Ethel told very few stories about her childhood yet held her younger siblings very dear to heart. In the early 1950’s, Ethel moved to Seattle to care for her older niece’s children as the family’s nanny. This is where she met the love of her life, J.E. Bennett, a young, handsome sailor in port from Texas. After a whirlwind courtship, J.E. left Seattle to briefly return home when Ethel and J.E. enjoyed a short, long distance courtship before she bravely boarded a Greyhound bus on a long journey to Texas. Upon Ethel’s arrival in Texas, Ethel and J.E. married on November 5, 1952. J.E. and Ethel traveled the country and the world. Ethel enjoyed her life as a sailor’s wife and made many friends in the exotic ports where they lived such as Hawaii and Japan.

After a decade of marriage, J.E. and Ethel started their family with the birth of their first born son while J.E was stationed in Japan. Moving from Japan to Long Beach, California, they welcomed a daughter and another son shortly before J.E. retired from the military. Moving to Seattle after J.E.’s retirement from the Navy, they welcomed their fourth child, a daughter, in Seattle, Washington. J.E. began work at Boeing, and Ethel who was thrilled to be a Mother after many years of waiting, happily stayed at home to care for four young children. Purchasing a home in North Everett in 1974, this is the home where they raised their four children and Ethel lived in for 40 years before her passing. Ethel wanted nothing more than to spend her last weeks in her family home, with her family by side where she raised the children she adored. It was her family’s honor to bring her home and care for her.

Ethel loved all of God’s creatures and gifts; the beautiful flowers of springs, animals, and children. She adored the color pink and a beautiful sunny spring day. Nothing meant more to Ethel than a visit from her grandchildren or a family gathering at her daughter, Gloria’s home. Ethel was a quiet, loving soul, teaching her children and grandchildren love, respect, honor, kindness, strength and valor. She was a devoted, loving wife who supported her husband through good times and trying times with unwavering love, compassion and acceptance.

As we live on, grieving together now, we must remember our Mother, grandmother, great grandmother and Aunt wished and prayed for nothing more then for each of us to live a happy, fulfilled life, to seek our dreams, to love our children, watch over one another, and to live quietly in her legacy.

Ethel’s life will be honored on Friday, April 25, at 3:00pm at Bauer Funeral Chapel in Snohomish. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Ethel’s name to Providence Hospice of Snohomish County.

Forever in my heart, Mother; a part of you is with me wherever I go.