Leona Margaret Everson's Obituary
Leona M. Everson "By your garden ye shall be known," the club motto of The Manitou Gardenettes, provides a key to the essence of the life of Leona M. Everson, born May 1, 1919 in Columbus, Nebraska. She died peacefully Dec. 16, 2008 at Tacoma General Hospital. Her world was her garden -- her marriage of 66 years to Coit A. Everson, their 4 children, 6 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. Her circle of love and nurturing also spread to include foster children, neighbors and friends. She became a true Mother to her daughters and sons-in-law. She found constant joy and delight in gardening, ornamental and vegetable, with her pantry shelves a kaleidoscope of home-canned color and her table bright with bouquets. Able to coax any plant into thriving beautifully, she sometimes complained that she had to grab a plant by the throat and fling it into the woods to be rid of it for good. Before Coit's death in May, 2007 they travelled to Europe, the British Isles, Mexico, Bahamas, Hawaii and nearly every state in the U.S. They would often jump into the car and head for the ocean to dig clams. A champion milker, according to a local dairyman, Leona could also whip up a wedding dress in 3 days for $7.00 or concoct a stew from scratch with a rich heavenly flavor that no one in the family has been able to match. She and Coit took up square dancing for quite awhile, sporting matching outfits she made at home. She served as president of the Manitou PTA and volunteered for many years at the local polling place and for the Boy Scouts. For all this active life, nothing mattered more to Leona than her family. She seemed to know and provide whatever both plants or people needed, causing all to form strong roots and wide branches open to the light. We, her family, carry seeds of her love and dedication in our hearts, which are sure to burst into bloom again and again. A service to celebrate her life will be held at Mountain View Funeral Home Monday, Dec. 22 at 2 p.m., Aspen Room in the Celebration of Life Center, 4100 Steilacoom Blvd. SW, Lakewood, WA. A reception will follow. Memorial contributions may be made in Leona's name to Emergency Food Network, or FISH food bank. To sign online guest book, please visit www.mountainviewtacoma.com
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