Dorothea Margaret Zinser
September 23, 1912 - June 17, 2015
Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, love leaves a memory no one can steal.
Our beloved mother and grandmother left us on June 17, 2015. She was born September 23, 1912, and lived nearly 103 years until a short illness took her life. We were fortunate to have her for so long, and to have her sharp mind until the end. Her body was frail but her mind was as sharp as when she was young.
She was a descendant of one of the earliest immigrants to America, Elder John Strong, who arrived in 1630, from England, and she was very proud of her Strong Family heritage. The Strong family settled in Hartford CT, and branches of the family came West in the 1800's, and were among the founders of Paradise CA. The Rileys (her father's family) were descendants of Irish immigrants and also were instrumental in founding Paradise CA.
Dorothea was born to Robert and Mary Strong Riley in Greenville CA, the second of four children. On July 18, 1936 she married Cyrus Maxfield, in California, and they had two children Lonnie and Marilyn. In November 1969, she married Henry Zinser in Seattle WA.
Mom was preceded in death by her husband Henry Zinser in 2001, and by her son Lonnie Maxfield in 2011. Her beloved sister in law, Barbara Maxfield McDaniel, died the morning after her own death.
She is survived by her daughter, Marilyn King (David), 7 grandchildren, Tania Maxfield, Debbie Maxfield (Shawn) and Amanda Maxfield Senger (Andy), Randall King (Tiffany), Stephen King (Tracey), Rachel King Egner (Steve), and Daniel King (Emily), and 11 great grandchildren, numerous nieces and nephews, and her cousin Gardner Strong.
She moved to Seattle in 1948, and lived in the area the rest of her life. In 2005 she moved to the Balkan Adult Family Home in Lynnwood WA, where she was very happy for 10 years. The Jasika family were devoted to her and they feel her loss too. We all want to thank Janja and Radomir and their family, and Rihanna, for caring for her so lovingly.
She was baptized as a Jehovah's witness in 1950, and had many friends and loved ones in the congregations around the greater Seattle and Lynnwood area.
Mom was a fantastic cook, and loved dazzling her family and friends with her gourmet cooking. We all appreciated eating it too. She loved to get dressed up with her jewelry and scarves, and until she got sick, fixed her hair and makeup every morning and made sure she looked nice, and she always did.
FUNERAL INFORMATION
A Memorial service will be held at the Lynnwood Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's witnesses on July 11 at 2PM, 6609 200th St SW, Lynnwood, WA 98036.