Obituary

Aura Ester Grappe went to be with her Heavenly Father on Sept 24th, 2016. She was born on May 8th, 1915 to Charles and Martha Christen in Kendall, Washington. She graduated from Mt. Baker High School in 1932. While picking strawberries on Orcas Island during the depression, she met Knute Grappe. They were married in Yakima Washington on Sept. 1, 1934. They lived in Fairhaven for several years before moving to Deming and raising their four daughters. Aura was also a foster mother to more than 90 children.
When her husband was transferred to San Juan Island, she had to give up taking care of foster children, but devoted lots of time to her 12 grandchildren. When they returned to the mainland, they settled on the Y Rd. and became members of Rome Community Church.
Aura loved to watch her husband play baseball, and later on was an avid Mariner fan. She had many hobbies. She loved to bowl, hike in the mountains, garden, play piano and sing, play card and board games, crochet, travel, and watch her grandchildren play sports.
Aura belonged to several organizations over the years such as the Orthopedic Club, bowling leagues, and hiking clubs. She volunteered at polling centers for many years, but no matter where she lived, she attended church, where she would usually do something involving music. She also sang with the Silver Bells.
In her later years, Aura had to slow down a little because of her poor eyesight, but she was able to live in her own home until she was 97 years old. She moved to Spring Creek Assisted living at that time and spent the last month of her life at St. Francis of Bellingham.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Knute Grappe; her daughter, Caryn Palmberg; brother, Leonard Christen; sisters, Vera Bonner, Loie Sanford, and Carol Riley; and grandchildren, Brent Golden and Erin Golden. .
She is survived by daughters, Verjean Golden (Leon), Denice Baggett (Butch), and Joanne Norris (Jim); sister, Evelyn Howell; 10 grandchildren and 23 great grandchildren. A memorial service will be Friday, September 30, at 3:30 PM in the chapel at Moles Greenacres.