Mildred Lucille (Smith) SALISBURY HOFFMAN

SMITH, SALISBURY, HOFFMAN, ROSS, TAYLOR, VETTER

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 7/3/2007 at 23:44:00

March 4, 1916 -- June 30, 2007

Mildred Lucille (Smith) Salisbury Hoffman, born March 4, 1916 in Clarion, Iowa passed away June 30, 2007 in Edmonds, WA surrounded by her loving children. Mildred was the second of five children born to J. Truman Smith and Miriam (Ross). She grew up on farms in rural Iowa. She graduated from high school in 1933 and attended Simpson College (Methodist) in Indianola, Iowa along with her older sister, Helen, and younger brother, Howard. After graduation she married K. Merwin Salisbury in Indianola, Iowa. They moved to Colorado Springs, CO in 1948 and opened a restaurant named "Salisbury Steak House." Mildred began her teaching career at Edison Elementary School. Following her divorce in 1963 she moved to Tacoma, WA where she married her former college sweetheart, David M. Hoffman. She returned to teaching at Milton Elementary School. Mildred loved children and enjoyed volunteering as a Storyteller. She served as a docent at Snake Lake Nature Center in Tacoma. She liked to sew, making clothes for children and grandchildren. She created many beautiful quilts. Mildred was a great cook and made yummy pies and cinnamon rolls. A nature lover, particularly birding, she spent hours writing journals about her experiences. From a young age she became an accomplished poet and had many published. An avid letter writer, she had many friends and pen pals with whom she corresponded for years. A lifelong Methodist, she was active in church, usually teaching Sunday school and involved with the women's group.

Mildred was preceded in death by her parents, her brothers Harold and Howard and her husband, David. She is survived by her children, Glenn Salisbury of Puyallup, Elaine Salisbury of Everett, Louise Salisbury of Seattle, and stepchildren Ann (Ron) Taylor and John (Bea) Hoffman; six grandchildren: Jason (Fumie), Kenneth (Janel), Galyn, Elektra, Courtney, and Gretchen, and two great-grandchildren, Jaden and Maya. She leaves a sister, Helen Vetter, and brother, Donald Smith. Among her loving friends are Marsha Salisbury and Dorene Wilson. She leaves numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. Mildred was always cheerful, lived a life of service and caring and will be missed by all who knew her.

Memorial Service will be held Saturday, July 7, 3:00PM; Evergreen-Washelli Chapel 11111 Aurora Ave. N. Seattle.

http://obit.evergreen-washelli.com/obit_display.cgi?id=433784&listing=Current