JULIANNE SAWYER WHALEY

WHALEY, JULIANNE SAWYER Brave and beautiful to the very last breath, Julianne Sawyer Whaley passed away quietly in her Coronado home with her husband on 29 May 2012. Julianne was a small town Coronado girl. She was born to Mable and Charles Sawyer 15 October 1930 in the medical dispensary in the 1100 block of Orange Avenue, Coronado's main street. It was right across the street from the "Sweet Shop" which the Sawyers had owned and operated since the 1920. Julie grew up in Coronado. The Sawyers basically lived in Coronado proper but three months each summer they lived in Tent City on the Silver Strand where Charlie operated a branch of the "Sweet Shop." Julie attended all 13 years in Coronado public schools and loved every minute of it and the carefree days with all the friends she made. She was a drum majorette in high school and graduated in the class of '48. Along the way Julie worked at the Hotel Del Coronado swimming pool when it was still salt water, was the first usherette at the Village Theatre when it opened in 1947, and was a receptionist at the Coronado Hospital in the early '50s. She attended San Jose State College graduating in 1952 with a BA in Business. That summer shortly after graduation Julie met a young naval officer, Bill (Fish) Whaley, who also grew up in Coronado. He knew right away that she was the one, and courtship began. When Fish returned from deployment to Korea in the summer 1953 they were married in Christ Episcopal Church in Coronado. While they were honeymooning in Laguna Beach the owner of the cottages was so impressed with Julie that she gave them an additional week free, saying she would attract business. Julie had four daughters, delivering the third herself in the back of a field ambulance enroute from Yokohama to Yokosuka Japan. While the girls were growing up Julie was totally devoted to their well-being. She adored children and never felt she could do enough for them. Children could feel her love. If she came into a room of children, they would flock to her even if they didn't know her. In addition to the home tasks and taking the girls to dance class and to swim meets while Fish was away on duty, Julie designed, contracted and had built a major remodel of their home. This allowed room to hostess old Coronado High School summer guests from Texas, Washington, Florida, and elsewhere in California. It was parties and wonderful companionship for weeks each summer for 25 years. A couple of summers there were so many people that youngsters had to be put in tents in the backyard. Julie was extraordinarily courageous. Her acts of bravery were too numerous for this, but one occurred when she was living in dense woods. She was watching her dog investigating something in the leaves when suddenly a snake bit the dog on the nose. Julie put the dog in the car and rushed it a couple of miles to the vet, telling him she thought it was a copperhead. He said he couldn't treat the dog without seeing the snake. Julie went home, got a rake and ankle deep in leaves looked for the snake. She found it, killed it and took it to the vet. The vet treated and saved the dog. Julie was a strong believer in resource conservation and protection of the environment. She supported worthy activities working toward those ends. In 1989 they xeroscaped their yard and installed a low-pressure mini-irrigation system. They had low flow plumbing devices in the house. They were the first residence in Coronado to install a solar electricity system. In their retired years Julie and Fish traveled extensively in Mexico, for the most part just the two of them using public bus and avoiding tourist locations. They truly enjoyed the Mexican people, food, and culture. Julie took up ceramics and drew in neighbors and friends. They had good times working together and shopping for supplies together. She used her products as gifts and in a large Christmas Village she had constructed. Julie was a California State Ombudsman at the Villa Coronado Convalescent Hospital. For the last 30 years she had managed a family property business. Julie so loved people that she looked for opportunities to arrange large gatherings whether it was 4th of July fireworks parties, Christmas eve dinner for extended family, or high school reunions. She is somewhere right now planning the 4th of July. Those who knew Julie will most remember her for being so much fun and Oh! she could dance. Julie was predeceased by siblings Marjorie (Bill) Rhodes, Carol (Joe) Adkins, and a granddaughter. She is survived by her husband William Semmes Whaley, her daughters Julianne (Bill) Kelly, Kim Whaley, Victoria (Dennis) Wells, and Sally (Nolan) Sacher, nine grand children, and two great-grand children. There will be no services. Julie was cremated and the ashes buried in the garden at Christ Episcopal Church in Coronado.