Wanda O'Brien's Obituary
Our beloved Mother, Grandmother, Auntie, Cousin and Friend, Wanda Joy O'Brien passed away March 29th 2023. Wanda (Wannie) was born on June 23rd, 1937 in Yakima Washington to W. Donald (Don) and Laura P. McLellan. She was raised in Spanaway, Washington where she graduated from Bethel High School in 1955. She earned a nursing degree after graduation.
She married the love of her life H.Thomas (Tom) O'Brien on June 14th 1958. They started married life working the family dairy farm in Eatonville Washington. When their three children were in school Wannie was involved with the local PTA at Weyerhaeuser Elementary. Her love of children would shape the course of her life as her volunteer work became her new vocation as the school's secretary. She would spend 25+ years working for the Eatonville School District before retiring in 2000. Tom and Wannie loved the outdoors. Camping, fishing, water skiing and hunting trips were common and usually included an ever growing number of adopted family members. One of her greatest joys in life was to watch her sons, daughter and grandchildren play sports and perform choral and dramatic productions in high school and college. Her distinctive voice, 'Whoop! Whoop' could be heard over most any crowd as she cheered them on. Wanda spent the last seven years of her life living on the "Rondarosa", her son Ron's ranch in Republic, Washington where she continued to expand her adopted family.
Wannie was preceded in death by her husband Tom, father Don, mother Laura. brother Donnie and sister Laurie. She is survived by:her children - sons, Donny (CareyLou), Ron (Abel), and daughter Mary; grandchildren - (Donny) Mason, Ian and Daniel, (Ron) Derek and Dani Rochelle, (Mary) Elizabeth and Hannah; ten great grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren; nieces Julie, Peggy and Wanda Lee Carver, Theresa Morrow. Linda and Patty O'Brien. nephews Jeff, Kevin (KC) and Todd Morrow and Mike O'Brien.
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