Alta Mae Stansell
1930 - 2014
Alta Mae Stansell
1930 - 2014
Obituary
Guest Book
BORN
1930
DIED
2014
Alta Stansell Obituary
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Kevin Leslie
October 26, 2014
Mom,
How odd this seems to be writing you a letter after you've passed. I suppose it's no odder though than thinking I need to call you on Sunday afternoon as was our custom. I will certainly miss those chats even if the last few years I had to repeat myself a lot. I'm sure your memory in Heaven is sharp as a whip! I will certainly cherish my memory of our last time together when I took you out of the rehab center and how you lit up when the gal at the Buzz Inn recognized you and bought you a drink. Of course that's one of many memories. I know that the boys and I made you very proud, but you made us proud as well. There were not many folks with the backbone you had to have to leave Pop in New Jersey to take your four young boys cross-country to start your life anew as a single mother of five in Washington. That certainly took some nerve - and I'm sure there were plenty of naysayers - but you proved them all wrong within a few short years when you were completely independent, operating your own business and raising your boys. You suffered a set back when a minor fender bender turned into major brain surgery and robbed you of your ability to operate your business and earn a living. But again you proved resilient and landed on your feet, albeit not without a lot of struggle and heartache. After all that, we ended up in Marysville, where I spent my teenage years prior to college. During those tough years you always provided us with a roof over our heads and three squares a day. More often than not you were feeding more than your boys as our table was always welcome to our friends as well, most of whom called you Mom. Not long after we moved to Marysville you met Frank, who, along with my brothers and uncles, provided a father figure in my life and some welcome financial stability. You pushed me hard in school during those years and encouraged me to pursue my junior year in Germany as an exchange school. Your high expectations of me no doubt led to my success in high school and later in college and my chosen profession. You certainly instilled a work ethic in all five of us that has never left to this day. If we wanted something you never discouraged us, but you also never provided it on a silver platter – you expected us to earn it and we most often did. I take that with me every day of my life. You were also a lot of fun. Not a stuffy parent really, but somebody who really knew how to relate to our generation – another reason why so many of our friends considered our house a second home. I left Marysville after high school graduation never to move back home, but I and all your boys were certainly always welcome (regardless of grumpy, aka Frank). I would relish coming home for those home cooked meals. Sometimes I would grab some fresh pasta and Italian sausage at the Pike Place Market so you could whip up some lasagna or else some fresh oysters so you and I could fry them up. Most of those nights we'd have a few drinks and break out your big box of old pictures so you could tell me who all the people were and your stories of growing up in North Dakota. Those are memories I will always cherish. How about the 1991 Rose Bowl we took you to? Now that was a happy event when we crushed Michigan and won the national championship! It was great that we got to share that time together. I could go on and on. I will certainly miss you and think about you every day. I thank you for everything you did for me, your nurturing, your hard lessons I needed to learn, your empathy when I needed propping up, your support innumerable times, and countless other acts of love. I love you very much and know you are now in a better place watching over all of us. Your loving son,
Kevin
Michael Leslie
October 13, 2014
Mother, I thought I was prepared for your passing but as the days have run together I realized nothing quite prepares you for the loss of a loved one. I know you are in a better place and are no longer suffering but the selfish son still wishes we could share a moment.
The strength and perserverance you instilled in us prepared us for the productive lives we lead. I know we made you proud and your legacy will live strong through all of us.
Mom, I will miss you terribly but your memory will carry me through.
Love Michael
Jerry Dawes
October 11, 2014
Lilly and I were sad to read that your mother had passed. We will always remember how well she treated us growing up in Edmonds. A lot of good memories, especially when you lived on 3rd Avenue. She was always proud of all her boys, and you could tell her love knew no bounds. I wanted to share a memory that is still vivid after all these years. It was when I would spend the night and in the morning she would cook up a big breakfast. Everyone was invited to sit at the table and she made me feel like one of the family. For a little while on a Sunday morning I was one of her "boys" too. And I felt lucky. Rest in peace Mrs. Leslie (that's how I knew her) you did good.
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debbie kurseth
October 9, 2014
there are no words to ease the pain of losing your mother.Mae lived a long life with you by her side. now she is looking down from the sky's above saying, i know how much you love me,my dear son and i will be watching over you!
Steve Leslie
October 9, 2014
Mom nothing is certain in this life but I am certain that despite all the hardships you endured, your unwavering love helped us to be self reliant, have families of our own and lead normal and productive lives. We will love and miss you always.
Rena Leslie
October 9, 2014
Tuesday I was working Thinking about what I would be doing Wednesday. So as I was going through what I would be doing. I thought at the end of the day Steve and I will go see Mae. When I got an unsettling feeling because we would not be seeing you. Then I thought about last Tuesday when we had seen you. We had a good visit and as we were leaving you could not thank us enough for coming by to see you. I thought you were so sweet for thanking us. We will miss our visits with you. We may not be able to see you but you will live on in our memory and hearts. You are loved by so many
Christopher Leslie
October 8, 2014
Grandma, you were and are one of the most powerful forces in my life. My toughness, my love for sports and my resilience I owe to you.
You were always there for me, as a child and an adult, and in all those wonderful years you gave me nothing less than unconditional love. If that weren't enough you gave me laughter, and pride in knowing that I came from you and you were my grandmother. You will be forever missed but never forgotten. We love and miss you more than you can ever know.
Tayler S
October 7, 2014
Miss Mae, you and I connected during my week of clinicals in Everett, and I think about you all the time. I was shocked and flattered that you remembered me each day we were together. Your sweet face and gentile laugh touched my heart and I know we will see each other again. Heaven gained a beautiful angel...
Linda Leslie
October 7, 2014
Mom, we know you are in Heaven and not hurting any more. I am so fortunate to have had you in my life for 31 years and Scott was so Lucky to have had you for 64 years. We will Miss You So Much and remember ALL of the fun times together with you. We Love You
These were some fun times and you even cracked a smile, I miss you already.
October 5, 2014
Well Mae you did make the most fabulous person ever (Dan of course). I commend you for that and sharing him with me over the years. Yes we clashed over things, but we ended up being friends. I enjoyed spending the last year with you, and we had a few laughs,,,,,well. I will always honor you for giving me your Mother's wedding ring for a wedding present. Yes you had a mouth on you, and you were very opinionated, but that was just you. Your long term memory for people and places was a steel trap, but hey what did you have for lunch. I don't remember is what you always said. LOL. I enjoyed doing your hair and nails, and it made you feel so good. I could even get a chuckle out of you. As the famous saying in our family goes (when Dan abandoned me on the beach to go in the bar with you) *I will see you later*! Try to behave where you are now as best as you can. Enjoy your desserts!! Karen
Julie Leslie
October 5, 2014
Mae, you will be greatly missed! I am glad my kids and I had a chance to be a part of your life!
Dan Leslie
October 5, 2014
Mom, I am going to greatly miss spending time together. Although you are gone, you will always be present in my heart and thoughts.
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