Elizabeth Boise Allwyn

Elizabeth died peacefully at home in Bellingham, WA on September 18, 2016, at age 89, after a brief illness. Elizabeth Irene Boise was born in Bismarck, North Dakota on February 19, 1927 to Spencer and Lillian Boise; she was the sister of Spencer and Douglas Boise, and beloved sister-in-law of Marty (Tavis) Boise and Alice (Bertrams) Boise. She attended Iowa State College through 1947, and graduated from the University of Cincinnati. In 1948, she married Donald Allan DeLaHunt of Ames, Iowa. Together, they raised six DeLaHunt children: Betsy (Jim Speigler), Day (Heather Campbell), MJ (Mark Toney), Jim (Kaitlin Sherwood), Charles (Jean Olson) and John (Delores Haines). Sadly, her husband Don passed away in 1982. Beginning in 1989, Elizabeth was married to Thomas Kelly of Dayton, Ohio for several years. At this time she changed her surname to Allwyn - a name of her own creation. She moved to Bellingham, WA in 1994 to share in the lives of her beloved grandchildren. Elizabeth was an enthusiastic reader, artist, musician and feminist, who loved children. She was known for her positive, active spirit, sense of humor, and creative needlework and knitting projects. She was an avid student of patterns, colors, vernacular architecture, Nordic history and genealogy, the American Civil War, and WWII post-traumatic stress disorder.  Her home was filled with books and art projects involving yarn, needlework, paint, and pencils.  She sang in many church choirs and the Cincinnati May Festival Chorus, and routinely volunteered in child development programs.  Elizabeth was known to the fellow residents in her retirement community as a courageous conversational catalyst.  At her request, her body has been given to the University of Washington Medical School for use in learning and research.   A Celebration of Life will take place at the Willows Senior Living Community, 3115 Squalicum Parkway, Bellingham, WA on Wednesday, September 28, 2016 at 2:00 pm.  In lieu of flowers, please consider making donations to Lydia Place (lydiaplace.org) and/or the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Greater Illinois Chapter (nationalmssociety.org/Chapters/ILD)