Anne Lovsted Thomas

Anne Marion Thomas died peacefully in her sleep on the 12th of August 2012 at the home she once called, "Going to Heaven House." Marion grew up on a dairy farm but hated getting up early to milk the cows. She was a lifelong night owl, an avid watcher of Jack Paar, Johnny Carson, and finally Jay Leno-especially staying up to watch Lady Gaga.
As the daughter of a railroad engineer, she moved to West Seattle during the depression to live with relatives in West Seattle. During World War II, Maron worked civil service at the Sandpoint Naval Air Station in Seattle and in Coronado, California.
Marion's Aunt Grace Scott was instrumental in urging her to move to Guam after World War Two, where Marion worked in civil service while Japanese soldiers were still being found in caves in the surrounding hills. After leaving Guam, she relocated to Alaska where she met and married her husband, Tom. In 1952, Marion hunkered down in a tent-- by herself, the only way to begin the couple's homestead claim. The homestead claim had been in expected in the spring, not November. Only a resilient Norwegian from Minnesota could endure such a turn of events while her husband trained troops for Korea at Fort Richardson. While living in Alaska, Marion witnessed the eruption of Mount Spur and experienced the 1964 Alaskan Earthquake, not to mention the swampfires and record-breaking snowfall ; and, of course, the brown bear at the door with baby Janet in the crib.
Marion was a good match to Tom's eccentricities and floral extravagances. Tom and Marion raised chickens and grew strawberries and cabbage to fulfill their homesteading requirements. Agricultural produce was followed by Daughter Number One, Janet Grace, and Daughter Number Two, Leona-who during her early childhood was told that she was discovered under a cabbage leaf. This was a plausible explanation, given the size of the cabbages on display at the Matanuska Valley State Fair where the family won blue ribbons in the flower competition.
Fields of gladiolas, sweet peas, calendula, and baby blue eyes flourished beneath the Midnight Sun, much to the delight of the local moose population. There were beds of sweet william, delphinium, columbine, forget-me-knot, and lily-of-the-valley as more delicate companions to the acres of brilliant color beneath a Field of Blue. On the eve of the Alyeska Pipeline Construction, the family moved to Sequim in 1972. Tom had only four brief years of retirement in Sequim--preceding Marion in death in 1976. Marion carried on, continuing to parent and support her daughters and raising their beloved terrier, Duke-despite his terrible performance at Obedience School. She gardened, golfed, travelled and took painting classes.
Always bitten by the travel bug, Marion travelled to Great Britain (including the Orkney Islands), Europe (including Turkey) and to Israel, Jordan and Obergamereau, Germany, with a group from Trinity United Methodist Church of Sequim. There were wonderful forays to Vancouver Island and to British Columbia. One of her favorite trips was a cruise to the Caribbean and the Panama Canal with her cousin, Jean.
Marion suffered a stroke in February of this year. With daily physical therapy, she recovered nearly one hundred percent. With the help of medical care from Doctor Charles Sullivan, Marion beat pneumonia. Discharged from rehab, Marion joyously came back to her home on the hill, to spend her final ninety-nine days on this planet doing what she needed to do to leave this earth. She continued to teach and live by example to her daughters, Janet and Leona. Each day was precious and well-lived.
Despite suffering from Alzheimer's disease, Marion kept her essential personality and sense of humor to the very end. While she struggled to remember Tiger Woods, when she learned that Fred Couples had won the British Senior Open, she cheered, "Good for Freddie!" Eventually, the Alzheimer's disease took her life-the life she loved and appreciated until the very end. In the weeks preceding her death, she enjoyed watching the Queen's Jubilee appearances, the Olympics, and even some of the Torchlight Parade. She loved watching Sophie Grace and Rosie on "Ellen."
Her daughters decline to hold services at this time. There simply are not enough fireworks, flotillas, floating hot air balloons, choirs singing "freedom," men being fired out of cannons, parading sheep or dancing Spice Girls, to convey the joy of calling Marion Thomas, mother and friend.
Marion's daughters want to express their gratitude to Doctor Charles Sullivan and his staff at Sequim Medical Associates for extraordinary care during the last six months of her life. Thanks are also extended to Curt Haugen, Physician's Assistant, now practicing in Port Angeles, for Marion's medical care during the earlier stages of the Alzheimer's. Thanks are also due to the caring nurses, nursing assistants and staff at Avamere Rehabilitation Center.
Marion leaves special friends and family in Minnesota, Arizona and Alaska as well as Seattle, Bellevue, Mercer Island, Fox Island, Yakima and elsewhere.
The family asks that donations be made to the Alzheimer's Association. Olympic Peninsula residents might want to consider participating in the Walk to End Alzheimer's on September 29, 2012, in Sequim. The address for the Alzheimer's Association in Western Washington is North Tower, 100 West Harrison Street, N200, Seattle, WA 98119. The national web site is www.alz.org Donations of school supplies can be made to any local school, as this was one of Marion's favorite ways of giving to the boys and girls of Sequim. Donations in memory of Marion would also be appreciated to any Boys and Girls Club.
To God Be the Glory. So Be It.



Sequim Valley Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements.
.