Nora Anderson

Nora (n?e Clarke) Anderson, 93, of Bellingham (11/30/1921 - 9/23/2015) was born in Gerrardstown, County Meath, Ireland to Eugene and Lena Clarke. One of eight children she was preceded in death by sisters Kathleen, Gladys and Carmel, and brothers John, Roger and Tom. Her husband Simon "Ken" Anderson died 9/5/2015. She is survived by her brother Eugene Clarke of Renton, Washington and her children: Simon B. Anderson of Bellingham; Christine Kendall (Jack Kienast) of Twisp, Washington and Sean K. Anderson of Pocatello, Idaho and many nieces and nephews. Nora left Ireland in her early twenties to go to Peterborough, England to live with her sister Gladys, nicknamed Jimmie, they worked at the same munitions factory and shared a lovely flat. Like many young women she attended USO dances and met a 2nd Lieutenant, Ken, who was in the Army Air Corps. They married and were stationed in Germany after the war. She studied for U.S. citizenship at her kitchen table, her children enjoying a civics lesson with her. Nora made homes for her family in many places in the United States, again in Europe, and later left her home on East Bakerview Road to live with her husband in Vientiane, Laos and Saigon, Vietnam during the Vietnam Conflict. When her husband quit flying he bought a commercial troller the Laverne II and Nora served many years as First Mate running the boat, cleaning fish and carrying out the same household chores she did on land. When Nora and Ken downsized from their East Bakerview home they lived in 24th Street Estates for ten years before moving to Spring Creek Assisted Living in 2013. Nora was loved by those who knew her for her Irish wit, and her ability to listen to others. She loved reading and working crosswords, and by and large was a home body, but traveled with Ken staying in their travel trailer at many favorite hunting and fishing spots. When still able, she crossed the pond frequently to visit Jimmie and in between they carried on a lively correspondence. Nora was not a materialistic person and often said "We came into the world with nothing, we go out with nothing." Nora's attachment was to her family, a few friends and family pets. One of her homes was jokingly referred to as "Nora's Ark" when her children collected quite a menagerie. Nora demonstrated that it's better to comfort than be comforted even when in hospital. To say she will be missed is a great understatement. Fortunately her husband Ken preceded her in death, of all of us, he would have been lost without her. The family thanks all the health care professionals who assisted Nora; Kirsten Eikum of Circle of Life; Cyndie and Harmen at Spring Creek, Mt. Baker Care and family friend Mark Reece. Memorial services for Nora and Ken will be held Friday, October 9th at 11:00 am at Woodlawn Cemetery, Northwest Avenue, Ferndale, WA. You are invited to share your condolences and memories in the online guestbook at www.gilliesfuneralhome.com. Arrangements are entrusted to Gillies Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Lynden.