Ethel M. (Guddall) LEMLEY

LEMLEY, GUDDALL, SPRINGER, DAVIS, HALLE, RICHTER, BODROCK, OBRIEN, SMITH, FRENCH, EATON

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 7/20/2008 at 09:41:20

Sedro-Woolley Courier-Times, WA
March 2000

Ethel M. Lemley passed away March 19, 2000, at her home in Sedro-Woolley at the age of 97 years. She was born March 6, 1903, in Thor, Iowa, the eldest of five children of John and Elsie Springer Guddall, a pioneer banking family of Sedro-Woolley. Ethel grew up in Sedro-Woolley, graduating from Sedro-Woolley High School with the class of 1922. She later attended Washington State [College] for three years, majoring in home economics as well as being a member of Alpha Chi Omega sorority. She married Harold V. Lemley on May 19, 1928, in Sedro-Woolley and in 1935 they purchased Higley Funeral Home and began the three generation funeral service firm of Lemley [Mortuary]. Ethel was actively involved with the operation of the funeral home with her husband, Harold, for many years, as well as being an active member of the community. She was a member of PEO, Soroptimist International of Sedro-Woolley and during WWII she was involved with the Red Cross as well as serving on the Election Board for many years. She enjoyed knitting, crocheting, ceramics, cooking and hosting birthday parties for family, friends and the neighborhood children.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Harold in January 1987, as well as her parents, a sister, Elaine, and brother, John. Survivors include: two sons and daughters-in-law, Robert G. and Judy Lemley and Richard V. and JoAnna Lemley of Sedro-Woolley; daughter and son-in-law, Lou Ann and Denny Davis of Mount Vernon; grandchildren, Kathryn Bodrock, Rick and his wife, Debbie Lemley, Randy and his wife, Marlene Lemley, Caron Halle, Leslie Lemley, Corrine and her husband, Todd Richter, and Brad and his wife, Gloria Davis; 14 great-grandchildren, Tara and Brady O'Brien, Eric Bodrock, Evan, Lauren and Kayla Lemley, Carissa, Jonathan and James Lemley, Gretchen Halle, Grace Smith, Zachary and Benjamin Richter, and Bo Davis; two sisters, Helen and her husband, Erwin French of Seattle, and Harriett Eaton of Sedro-Woolley.