Elizabeth Samuelson, 86, died Dec. 10, 2007, in Seattle.
She was born in Seattle to Norman Carter and Bess Tugwell Carter on Feb. 25, 1921. Beth attended Seattle Public Schools, graduating from Lincoln High School in 1939.
On Dec. 12, 1941, she married Dennis Samuelson, the love of her life, who preceded her in death in 2002. They owned and operated Whidbey Realty in Freeland for many years.
The family moved to San Diego, Calif., in 1949 so Denny could pursue an engineering career in the budding aircraft industry. In 1952 they built a home in Del Mar and spent the next 24 years there.
After her four children were grown Beth went back to school, earning her AA degree. She worked for many years for Amity International, a student exchange program and volunteered at Children’s Hospital in San Diego. She learned Braille in order to transpose books for Services for the Blind, which she continued for many years in California and Washington.
Beth’s ongoing love of the Pacific Northwest brought her and the family back often.
In 1976, Beth and Denny moved to Clinton. Beth took great pride in managing the construction of the new house in Clinton while Denny spent the year working in Iran prior to retiring.
She loved her big vegetable garden and assortment of fruit trees. Her grandchildren have fond memories of helping in the harvest, making her wonderful apple pies and canning the many fruits of her labors. To her grandchildren, Beth was Grammie, and Grandma, the person from whom they learned to bake, can pickles and beans, and make sauerkraut. With Beth, her children and grandchildren traveled, watched sports, played golf at Dave’s, read books, played cards and spent many wonderful holidays and summer days. Beth especially loved watching and listening to the Seattle Mariners, Everett AquaSox and the Washington Huskies games.
Beth and Denny loved to travel throughout the U.S. and Canada in their motor home along with their beloved cat and numerous dogs. Beth used many of these trips to complete her extensive family genealogy research. They also made numerous trips to England, Denmark and Sweden for continued research and pleasure.
Beth is survived by her four children Kathie (West Seattle), Blair (Medford, Ore.), Steve (Bellevue) and Paul (Langley), plus her 12 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. The great-grandchildren lovingly knew Beth and Denny as “The Greats.”
Graveside services will be held at noon on Friday, Dec. 28, at the Clinton Cemetery where she will be interred next to Denny and her mother Bess. A family gathering will follow afterward.
She will be always remembered, never forgotten, and once again reunited with those who have left before her.
