Corliss Bell Witteman's Obituary
Corliss Bell Witteman, affectionately known as Corky, was born on August 22, 1945, in Bemidji, Minnesota, and was called home to be with her Lord and Savior on January 20, 2025. She was the beloved daughter of Agnes and Kenneth Rogers, and the youngest sibling to two brothers, Herb and Milo, and her sister, Marilyn. As the baby of the family, Corky’s love for her family and her faith in God were at the center of her life.
The Rogers family lived in Minnesota until Corky was 5 years old, when they moved to Montana. She attended school in Montana from kindergarten through fourth grade before the family relocated to Tacoma.
Corky was a proud mother to two children, Lori Johnson and Gary Campbell, who were the shining lights of her life. She treasured them with all her heart. On May 8, 1994, Corky married the love of her life, Raymon Witteman, after a long and loving courtship. They met when she was 27 at K-Mart, and Corky always joked that she was his “Blue Light Special.” Their wedding took place aboard a cruise ship, marking the beginning of many joyful cruises together.
Corky’s family grew even more when she was blessed with five grandchildren and a dozen great-grandchildren, all of whom she adored and cherished. Time spent with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren was something she held dear. She loved them deeply and always made sure to treasure every moment spent with them.
Corky had a wide range of interests and hobbies. She enjoyed taking the kids to Sun Valley to teach them how to ski, was a dedicated fan of Monday Night Raw and Friday Night SmackDown, and loved spending time at the casino with friends. She also enjoyed being a part of the Red Hat Society, bowling with friends, and was a loyal supporter of the Seahawks and Mariners. Corky worked for Thriftway for many years, where she made countless friends who were an important part of her life. She also ran her own aerobics business for several years, living by the motto, “Those are wise WHO exercise!”
An animal lover, Corky had a special fondness for dogs and owls. She built a collection of owl figurines over the years, some of which we’ve brought here today. We invite you to take one in memory of Corliss Witteman.
Corky’s life was full of love, laughter, and faith. She was an amazing daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, and GGma, and we are grateful that the Lord shared her with us.
She is survived by her husband, Raymond Witteman; her two children, Lori Johnson (Tal) and her three sons; Gary Campbell (Charlene) and their two children; as well as her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, including Jimmy Thrall (Rachele) and their four children, Ronny Johnson (Madison) and their two children, Jonny Johnson (Ashlyn) and their two children, Spencer and his three children, and Amanda and her son. She is also survived by many close friends and relatives who will miss her dearly.
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