Lysbeth E. White's Obituary
Lysbeth E. White, born Frances Eudora Lysbeth Lyonnais on July 11, 1930, Tacoma, WA. Passed away July 18, 2024, in her sleep and at home.
Lys graduated from Stadium High in Tacoma, WA. She was on the honor roll. She took music & voice all through school plus private lessons. Sang on the Buster Brown Shoe Radio Program for 2 years. Sang in the choir at the first Lutheran Church in Tacoma. Sang publicly for banquets, private parties, weddings and for the USO Shows at Fort Lewis McChord Airforce Base. Also sang with the Seattle Philharmonic & choral society from 1955 through 1956.
Lys was a page boy in the Tacoma’s 100th celebration first opening of the Narrows Bridge.
Lys received a special work permit at age 12 to work in the Superior Laundry and did this for two summers.
Lys worked in the Puyallup Vally Farms as a weigher in the middle 1940s. In 1946 she worked at Mt. Rainier Paradise Lodge in the kitchen for a summer. She loved to talk about this experience.
June of 1949, she worked as an office clerk for Weyerhaeuser Sales Co.
Lys Followed in her parent’s footsteps working for the King County Human Society, from 1954 to 1968, in public relations handling snakes, apes, chimps and other wild animals on channel (9) at the University of Washington. Investigated cruelty cases & filed all petitions for animal cruelty charges. She was the shop steward for five years for the clerical employees at the Human Society.
Between 1964 & 1970 Lys was vice President on the Executive Board of Teamsters Local 154. In 1976 locals merged with local 117 and she was the first woman Business Agent for Teamsters Local 117. Lys was on the Teamsters Retirees Board for 7 years and she retired in 1987
Lys married in 1949, had two girls Sylvia & Diana. Diana died in 1957 of Cystic Fibrosis at the age of seven. Lys divorced in 1958.
Lys loved to decorate her home for every holiday. She would decorate it from inside out. Everything would come down and holiday would go up. It was one of her favorite things to do.
Lys loved animals. Her birds were very important to her and had to have the best food possible. Lys also loved working in the yard and loved her roses. She was published in two different rose magazines for her roses. What an honor.
Lys loved to have parties at her home with her friends. What a time they had. They sang, played the piano, ate food and just hung out. She also loved to hang out with her lady friends and laugh like crazy.
Lys left a lasting impression on all who knew her. She was very fancy and loved to dress to the nines. She loved her hats, her gloves, her shoes, her jewelry oh how she loved to dress. Her earrings and what she wore maintaining her roses had to match. She was so very fancy. Oh yes, her hair. Her hair had to be done every Tuesday. So fancy.
Lysbeth is survived by her daughter Sylvia Humpherys, her grandchildren Jess Gravelle, Shoreline, Rachael Winichenko, Shoreline, & Isaiah Winichenko & spouse Victoria, Lynnwood & by her three great grandchildren, Ryder Whitcomb, Elijah Winichenko & Liza Winichenko.
She is also survived by her adopted family Kathy & Richard Jenkins of Snohomish & their children & grandchildren. Daughter Natalia & Javi Campau, son Michael & Charlie Jenkins & daughter Wren, son Jerimiah & Justine Jenkins & their daughters Penelope & Mabel.
A very special thank you goes out to her granddaughter Rachael for taking care of her so she could have her wishes as to make it to her 94th birthday and to pass away at home. She got her wishes.
Eternal rest grant unto her, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon her. May she rest in peace. Amen. May almighty God bless us with his peace and strength, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen
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