September 21, 1925 - November 9, 2020

A class act with a gentle soul, Ele was beautiful inside and out.  She was thoughtful and caring, the epitome of warmth, kindness and generosity with a ready smile for all.

Ele was raised in the Mt. Baker area of Seattle where she graduated from Garfield High School in 1943.  She participated in many school activities and was president of the “G” Club in her senior year where the girls voted her most inspirational girl that year.  After school activities included skiing, hiking, church functions as well as swimming, rowing, paddle boarding, sunbathing and in general having fun with friends at her Mother’s lake place.  Ele remained lifelong friends with many of her classmates.

During WWII, Ele entertained our troops as an USO Volunteer Junior Hostess. She and her girlfriends many times danced the evening away with the soldiers.

Her life changed drastically when a handsome young man, Earl Stuart, was in town from Alaska to attend an Epworth League (a young adult Methodist association) conference.  He caught a glimpse of a stunning young woman and thought to himself “that is the women I am going to marry.”  For him it was love at first sight.  They met and soon exchanged love letters after he left to serve in the war as a dedicated Marine. 

They were married on August 17, 1946, enjoying and cherishing each other for their 67 years together.

They moved to the north end of Seattle where they raised their two daughters Cheryl and Charlene.  They were an outdoor family going hiking, camping, to the ocean and traveling the Pacific Northwest.

Starting in the 1960’s, Ele began working part-time at Pinehurst Pharmacy, retiring in 1980.  She then volunteered at Northwest Hospital, utilizing her compassionate nature and lovely smile to comfort people.

A charming hostess, Ele put people at ease and saw the best in others.  Always ready to pitch in where needed, Ele and Earl were longtime, active members of Haller Lake United Methodist Church, the Stillaguamish Country Club (SCC), the Darrington United Methodist Church and Fairway Estates Mobile Home Park in Everett.  They treasured the many friendships they made through these organizations.

In 1978 Earl and Ele purchased a charming cabin at the Stillaguamish Country Club near Darrington. They spent many a year in back and forth living – part of the time in the city and part in the country.  The family has many wonderful memories of evenings sitting by the fire, walks in the woods, floating the Stillaguamish River on inner tubes, entertaining friends, taking drives and hikes in the scenic mountains and celebrating holidays at the “country” decorated cabin. 

Ele adored mountains, rivers, walking in the woods and strolling ocean beaches.   They continued to enjoy traveling to many places but somewhere special to them was the Tolovana Inn, Cannon Beach, Oregon, where they vacationed nearly every fall for 35 years.

So it is with sweet memories and loving hearts, family and friends say goodbye, for now, knowing heaven has a new angel.

In addition to Cheryl and Charlene (husband Norlynn Norsby), Ele is survived by her deeply loved grandson, Ryan Senior and great-grandson Rylee Senior; her niece Marie Fieldhouse of Burien, nephews Roger Polk (wife Kristin) of Michigan and Jack Polk in Canada; sister-in-law Sally (Stuart) Smith (husband Fred) of Spokane; nieces Davidene Humphreys and Janet Parrington (husband Chris) of Oklahoma; nephew Don Stuart (wife Vickie) of Alabama, their families and many wonderful friends.

FUNERAL INFORMATION

No memorial service is planned due to the covid-19 pandemic. 

LINK TO FULL VIDEO

 https://www.tributeslides.com/tributes/show/8566FFKTMQDM4GJG?e=1