Winifred Bowles Weiser, 95, departed this realm amidst the love of her family on March 15, 2006 at Careage Nursing Home where she has been a resident during the last two years.

Prior to that time she lived for 10 years next door to her family, daughter Cheryn Weiser Roosen-Runge, son-in-law Kord Roosen-Runge, and granddaughters Danielle and Megan Roosen-Runge, who reside in Freeland. Other extended family members living on include Ursula and Charles Scurlock and Anne and Bob Waterman.

Winifred lived near or with her family since 1985 when she left her home of 37years in Portland, Ore. She will be remembered for her dedication and passion for children in many different ways from her second grade students at Fairview Elementary School in Fairview, Ore., to her granddaughters, or the children who were served by the child care center at Careage.

She loved music and became known for her singing wherever she was. She found great pleasure in nature, be that the many birds that came to her feeders or the flowers and plants that thrived in her garden.

Winifred was born in Custer, Washington near Bellingham on May 24, 1910. Her parents Lewis and Lura Bowles lived with their three children Rollin, Winifred and Erlene where Lewis farmed, logged or used his draft horses for road building across Northwestern Washington.

Winifred went to grade school and high school in Port Angeles and received a teaching degree from Bellingham Normal School, later Western Washington University, and the University of Oregon. She lived in the Portland, Ore. for many years where she taught first through fourth grade in the David Douglas, Rockwood and Reynolds School Districts.

She brought a zest and joy for life to all that she did and family, friends and the staff at Careage of Whidbey will dearly miss her.

A family graveside service will be held on Sunday, March 19 at Sunnsyside Cemetery in Coupeville. A memorial service is being planned for the weekend of May 20.

In her spirit of community and her love for the magic of relationships between the old and the young, donations in Winifred’s memory may be directed to the South Whidbey Commons, PO Box 222, Langley, WA 98260.