In Memory of our loving Mother, Eloise Norine Lee, 95, who passed away peacefully on March 8, 2016, at Kadlec Regional Medical Center in Richland,Washington. She was born to Ralph and Marie James in Beloit, Kansas, on July 6, 1920.  She was the oldest of four children that included two sisters, Lovell and Ardee, and a brother, Ralph.

She spent her youth on her grandparents' farm in Kansas during the depression years.  Money was scarce but there was an abundance of peace/security/comfort/stability and love growing up.  She learned great responsibility at an early age as the eldest child, and was an energetic/serious girl who excelled in the one-room school she and her siblings attended.  She and her siblings attended church services in the Methodist church.  She relocated to Missouri to attend high school and graduated at 16 (a year early) as Salutatorian of her class.  After high school she married her high school sweetheart and three daughters came of this union, Vermell, Jonene, and Janice. 

During World War II, she was faced with raising her three girls alone and came west to Richland, Washington, to join her sister, Ardee (Dale) Hoglen.  Soon, she met and married a young farmer, Richard Lee, who had two small children, Kenny and Alice.   The blended family of five children moved into the main farm house in Kennewick, Washington.  The five children and many cousins enjoyed playing outside in the orchards and fields of this wonderful 90 acre farm (right in the middle of what is now Kennewick).  They also learned to work by cutting asparagus early in the morning during the summers and when the season was over they would travel to Walla Walla (the big city) and buy their own school clothes.  One of the crops they raised was spearmint, which they sold to Wrigley's.  Our Mother was a wonderful homemaker and stay-at-home Mom who loved to care for her children, home, and beautiful yard/flowers.  She planted/cared for large gardens (canning/freezing enough fruits/vegetables for the large family to last the winter . . including wonderful jams/sauerkraut/variety of pickles.  She was a True Pioneer as she raised chickens/turkeys each year/butchering/freezing them for the family's enjoyment.  She was a wonderful cook making all her own breads and desserts.   She Hosted enormous family gatherings on the farm with fun times for cousins/family, including picnics, fried chicken, homemade ice cream, games, and fun activities such as horseback riding.  Cars from the city would line up for miles to enjoy the awesome 4th of July fireworks display held in the pastures just below the house.  In addition, our Mother was an industrious woman and a professional seamstress who made all her children's clothes (even their winter coats).    

The City of Kennewick expanded and bought the farm's 90 acres in 1953, and the family relocated to Colville, Washington.  Sadly, Richard died of Hodgens Disease at a very young age, and our Mother was widowed.  It was at this time that she went to work at Bank of America, and started her 25 year career in banking.  She transferred back to her beloved Tri-Cities to the Richland branch of Bank of America, and continued her career in banking until she retired at the age of 65.  Her later years were devoted to her children, and many grandchildren, including great grandchildren, and great/great grandchildren. She was proud of her large family, and provided opportunity and encouragement for all of them.  A special moment in her life was seeing her great granddaughter put herself through college, law school, and then become a lawyer.  Our Mother was an amazing and strong woman who lived alone and did her own work until the age of 95.   

Our Mother was preceded in death by her parents, all her siblings, her daughter, Vermell Campbell, and granddaughter Teresa Morgan.  She is survived by her daughters, Jonene (Darry) Boggess, Hermiston, Oregon; Janice Morgan, Richland, Washington; step-daughter Alice (Bob) Versteeg, Richland, Washington; and step-son, Ken (Ann) Lee, Winston Salem, North Carolina; fifteen grandchildren; numerous great and great/great grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

A "Celebration of Life" will be held Friday, March 25, 2016, at Events at Sunset, 915 Bypass Highway, Richland, Washington, from 1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.   All are welcome to help memorize her life and share stories/thoughts at the Celebration of Life.