Edith Myrth Durrant

Edith Myrth Durrant, age 75, passed away in Bellingham, WA on December 17, 2020. The eighth of nine children, she was born on November 6, 1945 in Roseburg, OR to Earl and Edna Van Cleave. Edith learned the value of hard work early on. At the age of 5 she and her siblings started picking beans in the Oregon bean fields. She worked for a short time at the Sutherlin Sawmill. After graduating high school, Edith went to work for the post office and worked her way up until she retired as the Postmaster at the Rock Island, WA Post Office. Edith dearly loved and was devoted to her family. She single-handedly raised three children while working full time, and always managed to be there for them – for both the challenging times and the fun times. And, there were a lot of fun times! Teaching the kids how to drive stick-shift while laughing all the way through the lessons, singing, making Christmas extra special, taking dance classes, listening to others tell their stories, taking long drives, playing at the casino – Edith was always up for new adventures, and you never knew what she would get herself into next. But the water was her constant love. Oh, how Edith loved the water. Most family vacations were spent near the ocean (or any body of water). She loved to take the kids boating and was one heck of a water skier. Later in life a drive to a local park to sit and look out over the Puget Sound was a simple joy. In 1984 Edith and Ben Durrant joined their lives to one another and blended their families. Together, Edith and Ben collected every Disney movie ever made and spent countless hours together watching and laughing as they enjoyed those movies again and again. Edith was a voracious reader who loved a good story. She turned her love of words and stories into numerous original poems and short stories that she submitted to a variety of publications. Edith is preceded in death by her son Andy Blanton, grandson Krayson Gates, and brother Robert. She is survived by her significant other, Ben Durrant, siblings; Alice, Addie, Frank, Ray, Barney, Perry, and Aaron, daughter Tami Gates, son Matt (Sam) Blanton, stepchildren; Tara (Jim) Baker, Taunya Durrant, and Ben (Stephanie) Durrant, grandchildren; Isaac (Molly) Gates, David, Krysti, Jordan, Kaylee, Joe, Stephani, Taylor, Megan, and Jessica, and several nieces and nephews. Edith was always ready with a smile and a hug. She was thoughtful, sweet natured, generous, kind, beautiful inside and out. Edith was a big-hearted dreamer, and she will be dearly missed. Edith’s final resting place is at Evergreen Memorial Park in Wenatchee, WA.

Edith Myrth Durrant

November 6, 1945 - December 17, 2020