MIRIAM CURTIS

Miriam "Mimi" Washburn Curtis Mimi was born in Seattle on October 10, 1913 and passed away November 24, 2010. She lived a full life and had a chance to say goodbye to her family before passing. We wish to thank the wonderful staff at Beachwood Manor, Seattle for their tender care. Mimi spent her early childhood in Seattle but later moved to Tacoma where she graduated from Stadium High School and enrolled at the University of Puget Sound. She subsequently transferred to the University of Washington where she was an Alpha Phi and majored in clothing and design. Mimi married Wilbur W. Washburn on September 5, 1934 shortly after he graduated from the UW. They settled at Neah Bay, Washington where his father owned a general store which had been established as a trading post by his grandfather in 1902. Their plan was to stay there for three years but the three years became thirty. Her family was the center of her life. Membership in the Neah Bay Presbyterian church introduced her to the Christian life and she participated fully teaching Sunday school, singing in the choir and serving as an Elder. As her children grew, Mimi found time to become more engaged in the family business and assumed management of the dry goods department excelling in buying and merchandising. She and Wilbur built a larger store in 1955 to better serve the community and summer tourist trade. That store was destroyed by fire in 1962 and rebuilt in 1963. Unfortunately, Wilbur died shortly thereafter leaving Mimi to manage the new store until it was sold in 1965. After selling the business, Mimi moved to Port Angeles where she was active in various community affairs including the Presbyterian Church and P.E.O. She received her real estate license and in 1977 was president of the Port Angeles Board of Realtors. She retired in 1979. Mimi met George R. Curtis at a Stadium High School reunion and they were married in August 1987 at University Place. George had been associated with the University Place School District for 45 years and retired as district superintendent. Mimi and George both loved flowers and spent much time designing and enjoying their beautiful flower garden. Mimi's years in Tacoma were enriched by the members of the University Place Presbyterian Church, Bible Study Fellowship, P.E.O., Orthopedic Guild, the Birthday Bunch, and the Interlaaken Garden Club where she was president for two years. Mimi is survived by son Tim Washburn and wife Nancy, granddaughter Melissa and husband John Aydelott, great grandchildren Jack, Caroline, Elise and Josephine, grandson Alex Washburn and wife Erika, great grandchildren Sonja and Blake, daughter Barbara and husband Marvin Eby, granddaughter Jennifer Eby and partner Curtis Froland, great grandson Nicholas Fothergill, granddaughter Betsy Eby and husband Bo Bartlett, and granddaughter Allison Eby and husband Nathan Butz, great grandsons Desmond and Leo, sisters-in-law Neah Whitesides and Gwen Mallory of California. A memorial service will be held at University Place Presbyterian Church, 2:00 p.m., December 3, 2010. Please leave online condolences at www.GaffneyCares.com . Arrangements by Gaffney Funeral Home, 253-572-6003.