PORTIA WILKES
September 8, 1940 - January 16, 2012
While the snow was softly falling from the sky, Portia Wilkes passed away in her sleep on Jan. 16, 2012.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her brothers Ronald and Grant and her sisters Doris and Luvella.
She is survived by her husband and children, sister in-law Lois Mauer, numerous cousins, other family members, and many friends.
She was a devoted wife to Stan for 32 years, and was a devoted mother to her daughter, Lori and husband Jimmy Burls, son Eric and wife Jenny Waterbury.
Portia was born in Hood River, Ore., Sept. 8, 1940, but grew up in Parkdale, Ore., on a farm at the foot of Mount Hood.
She told many fond stories of how it was as a child growing up with her family. As an adult she lived for many years on Queen Ann Hill in Seattle where she raised her family and worked as a hairstylist.
When she married Stan, his job took them to many different locations in the U.S. She often talked about their stays in California, Las Vegas, Alaska and Hawaii to name a few. After retiring in 1994, they settled on Camano Island, where she made her final home. She loved to shop at the local antique and thrift shops. During the summers she never missed the garage sales.
She loved to garden and was always looking for that special plant. No trip to Mount Vernon was completed without her favorite stop at a coffee stand to get her favorite low-carb mocha drink.
Portia loved her dogs Sneakers and Buddy and the many dogs she previously owned. She was a lways friendly, positive, caring and had a big smile on her face, no matter what life brought her, even though she faced major health problems during her life.
She will be deeply missed and fondly thought of by her family and her best friend Edythe Keene.
Sleep softly my love. Gone but never forgotten.
A celebration of her life was held at l p.m. Saturday, Jan. 28.
The family would like donations made in her name, to either the National Heart Association of America or CASA Animal shelter on Camano Island.
