A graveside service for ANNE GILLETT will be held at 3:00 p.m. Monday, December 3, 2018 at Hawthorne Funeral Home in Mt. Vernon, followed by an informal reception on-site at 3:30pm.

Those with memories of her are welcome to attend either event or both.

Anne passed away on November 23, 2018 in Bellingham at age 87. She felt blessed to live in the home she and her husband built until the final few weeks of her life.

Anne was raised in Tampa, Florida by her beloved Aunt Buji and Uncle Wade. A gifted student, she skipped the 2nd grade altogether and graduated from high school and college early. Her musical talents showed up with classical piano training as a child.

Anne graduated from (what is now known as) Western Washington University where she met the love of her life, Bruce Gillett. They were married in 1950 shortly before graduating and shared a lifelong passion for jazz.

Anne and Bruce played both as a duo and in countless collaborations with other musicians. On their 50th wedding anniversary they cut a treasured CD for family and friends. Anne was included in Milt Krieger's book "The Less Subdued Excitement", which documents the history of jazz in Whatcom County. She was a long-time member of the local Musicians' Union and served on the board for many years.

Anne retired as a teacher in the Stanwood School District in 1993. She brought a sense of humor and used the element of surprise to keep students engaged in the classroom. Her classes visited the Josephine Sunset Home in Stanwood to perform songs for the residents.

She loved boating in the San Juans, dining out, and traveling. She returned to Florida often to see friends and relatives, and took quite a number of cruises in different parts of the world.

Anne was preceded in death by husband Bruce and daughter Jan.

Survivors include daughters Jill (Dan) Estvold and Michelle (Doug) Scraper, son Bruce (Sylvia) Gillett, along with many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Her family would like to express gratitude to the staff members of Logan Creek in Mount Vernon and Mt. Baker Care Center in Bellingham for their kind and loving approach to her end stage in life.

Please share your thoughts and memories of Anne on the online guestbook at www.hawthornefh.com.

Arrangements are under the care of Hawthorne Funeral Home Mount Vernon, WA.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Skagit Valley Herald from Nov. 29 to Nov. 30, 2018.

Memories and Condolences
for ANNE GILLETT

Sponsored by Hawthorne Funeral Home - Mount Vernon.

12 Entries

Milt Krieger

November 23, 2023

A Bruce and Anne photo from Bellingham's Royal Inn, 1960 or 1961, remains where it was five years ago, not five feet from where I'm tapping this note, above my study's desk. Bruce is sturdy and immaculate, with his height almost exactly matching his string bass. Anne is elegant at the keyboard, with her radiant face in the photo's exact center. They're surely together now, as then, and remain in my mind and heart, along with their dear friends Gene and Harriet Hatch, as music- and soul-mates.
Milt Krieger

December 4, 2018

I really enjoyed working with Anne in Stanwood. Her positive enthusiasm drew people to her!Kent Lassinger

Jeffrey Pearce

December 2, 2018

We will remember Anne and Bruce for the Christian love and joy they showed to all they met, and for their devotion to each other. We were privileged to have had them in our lives as very dear friends. The kindnesses and courtesies they showed to our family were innumerable. We rejoice that they have been reunited with each other, and we look forward to the day when we will all be together again!

May God comfort you all as you remember dear Anne!

-The Pearce Family

Patti Rowe

December 2, 2018

I was blessed to get to spend some time with Anne two years ago when she had broken her arm. Kristi and I were able to break her out of the nursing home and go out to lunch to some of her favorite places. She was so grateful but we were the ones who were blessed with stories of the times she had spent with Bruce at these places and the fun they had together.

I remember the Sunday road trips we would take when I was younger and the paddle that was kept in the glove compartment of the car. I dont remember it being used, but just its presence kept all of us kids in line.

I remember her spaghetti sauce that had to be cooked most of the day. I still have that recipe!

I remember our Mother and Anne laughing at the silliest of things at the drop of a hat. It was very embarrassing to those of us who lacked their awesome sense of humor!

Anne has left us her legacy of her love of laugher, her children, music and jazz.

Patti

Michael Dillard

December 2, 2018

I was very fortunate to be Anne's family doctor for a number of years until my retirement in 2016. It always brightened my day to see either her name or Bruce's name on my schedule in the morning. She was always so full of fun and I can still hear her laughing. At the end of the visit I would usually say something like "see you soon raccoon" and she would say "see you later when your legs are straighter!"
I remember, soon after I met her, running into her in a restaurant in Anacortes where she was playing piano. She took requests and seemed to know the music to every song I asked for. She played beautifully. I count myself lucky to have one of her CDs, which I treasure.

Joyce Marshall

December 1, 2018

I am so grateful to have lived near Grandma Anne as a Mom of young children. She delighted in seeing and hearing stories about all her Grandchildren and Great Grandchildren. Grandma Anne generally could be counted on to chuckle through my children's misadventures. Grandma Anne and Grandpa Bruce thoroughly enjoyed my children's birthday parties. Amid the chaos and noise, you could find them with big smiles. I will hold this picture of them in my heart, united and smiling down on all their remaining family and friends. I praise God that Grandma is at peace and reunited with her beloved partner in life. Grandma delighted also in sharing her musical talents with others, and many of our family gatherings were enriched with joyful music. I will remember Grandma Anne as dynamic, intelligent, caring, resilient, unique, and fun. I believe she would want us all to celebrate, preferably with cocktails and jazz, her ascent into eternal glory.

Kristi N

December 1, 2018

I will always remember:

Her infectious laugh, and beautiful smile.

Her sense of humor, and her sense of adventure.

The precious gift that she gave me by sharing the stories and photos of our ancestors.

Her talent, her beautiful music.

Her love of animals.

Her awe of the beauty of her home state of Washington, and her desire to share that with me.

Her way with words.

Her love of her family and friends.

Her faith in The Lord.

I hope my dear aunt knows that I will remember her love, and that she will never be forgotten.

Today I will close my eyes and listen to the music, as she taught me to do. I will wear my most colorful clothes in her honor. It's what she would have wanted.......

Karen Halgren

December 1, 2018

Jill and family, Bruce and Anne were such delightful fun loving couple we met years ago at St. Paul's. Enjoyed their music and when Bruce passed away I would run into Anne many times at the grocery store and we would have a lengthy chat and she was so lost without Bruce by her side. They are together now and making music from Heaven. Thinking of you at this difficult time Jill and pray all those wonderful memories will be a comfort to you and family now. Blessings, Karen Halgren

Elaine Yale Weltz

November 30, 2018

Jill et al...
Sorry to hear of your loss. As I read your Mom's life story, all I could do was smile. I see her grinning and laughing her trademark laugh...and smile myself. Let's all play a little jazz in her honor!

Milt Krieger

November 30, 2018

Bruce and Anne's photo, on bass and piano at the Royal Inn in 1961, is on the wall above me as I tap this note. They were joyful and radiant together then and remained so when I met them 45 years later. I think of them as still together today, and forever. Wonderful people I was
fortunate to meet and know...I'm thankful I did so and extend deepest condolences to the family for its loss.

Milt Krieger

Cindy M

November 30, 2018

What a great lady full of life. She would offer to give me a concert just for me and she played piano as I worked at Mt. Baker CC. I closely watched her style and admired her piano playing. She would say "see u can jazz up this song or people here probably like it played this way" and toned it down. I feel honored to have heard her play. We were both trained classical pianists and I admired her jazz styles.

November 30, 2018

Anne and Bruce played music with my late husband Ray Downey. She was always delightful and it was a pleasure to be in her company. One day at a gathering we talked more intimately about loosing our husbands and how much we missed them. I hope her passing was peaceful and wish her family healing. Diana Murphy

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