Elaine Hurlbut Sabol's Obituary
Elaine passed away on September 8, 2021 at the age of 87. Elaine was the second daughter of the late Clarence W. Hurlbut and Evalyn Nelson Hurlbut. She was born in Tacoma, Washington on May 26, 1934. Elaine is survived by Don, her adoring husband and love of her life. They celebrated 58 years of happy marriage on June 7th of this year. Elaine is also survived by her loving and dear Sister, Nan Erwin and her beloved nieces and nephews as follows, Sally, Carol and David Otterson; Gretchen Griffin and her husband, Whitney and their three children, Wyatt, Cooper and Gabi: Greg Erwin and his wife, Lisa and their two daughters Margo and Bailey. Elaine attended the Tacoma public schools and graduated from Lincoln High School in Tacoma in 1952, where she participated in numerous activities. She was the majorette for the Lincoln High School’s girls marching group, ”Marketta kai” and also for Lincoln’s marching band. She proudly became a student at the University of Washington after graduating from high school. She started her professional business career with Pacific Northwest Bell and left their executive legal offices in Seattle and moved back to Tacoma after she married her husband Don. In Tacoma she became employed as an administrative assistant on the top management teams of a number of leading corporations in the pulp, paper and lumber industries. Elaine and her husband, during their marriage, were inseparable and enjoyed every life activity together. The most important being their relationship with their Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and they were active members of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Tacoma, Washington. Elaine was kind, sweet, and caring and was most appreciative for any kindness that was ever shown her. She always had perfect makeup, was immaculately dressed and never ever had a single hair out of place, she even dressed up to work in the yard. She loved people and all of God’s creations. To know her was to love her. Her home and decorating it, was her pride and joy. She especially enjoyed planning dinner parties for friends and family and the dinner tables that she set, could have been featured in beautiful home magazines.
She enjoyed ocean cruising and Holland-America was her favorite line. She and her husband Don, visited ports of call in Alaska, Central America, the Caribbean and South America. Every country and experience, gave new meaning to how great and wonderful our GOD’S creations really were.
Of all outdoor activities she enjoyed, the one she enjoyed the most was snow skiing and the area she loved was Sun Valley, Idaho, where she and her husband skied every year for over 50 years. She took skiing seriously and was an expert skier. She was an avid fan of the Seattle Seahawks, having season tickets for 35+ years. The part of the total game experience she enjoyed the most, was dining at her favorite restaurants after the games. One of her most favorite was Harbor Lights, because of their culinary fare, delightful chefs, accommodating management and personable wait staff.
Most of her activities were curtailed after she was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. It robbed her both physically and mentally but it could not take away her sweetness, kindness and loving personality that she possessed through when our dear Lord took her home.
Our family wishes to express our heartfelt thanks to Dr. Steven Stringfellow and his loving nurse Janelle, for their constant attention to Elaine’s medical needs over the many years of their gentle and thoughtful care. We also wish to thank Vanesse, Edith and the staff of Soundview Manor for making Elaine’s final days comfortable and bearable, until Elaine was carried in the loving arms of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ to her heavenly home.
A memorial service is planned to honor Elaine on Saturday October 16, 2021 at 11:30AM at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church 140 East 56th Street, Tacoma, WA 98404. If memorials wish to be made in honor of Elaine, it is suggested that they be made to Good Shepherd Lutheran Church or to a charity of personal choice.
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