Obituary

Esther Janice Ware, Qua Duc, Wife, Sister, Aunt passed away in the early morning hours of March 7, 2015 surrounded by family that she cared so deeply for.

She had an adventurous life and was always doing something exciting. She lived her life to the fullest, and you can certainly see that by all her photos that she shared with the family.

She was a loving wife survived by her husband of 40 years, Ron Ware and her dog Macey. She was a loving sister and is survived by her brothers Ralph Scott, Sr. and wife Rosalie, and Charles Scott and her sisters, Gail and husband Ron Phair, Barbara and Husband Stewart Berger and Brother In-Laws Lawrence Tom (Spaghetti) and Ricardo Alvarez. She was the most loving Aunt and had numerous nieces and nephews. She was a loving Niece and is survived by her Aunt Mary Johnson and husband Vern Johnson, Sr. and Aunt Loreen Lawrence and Uncle Armour Jo James.

Esther was a family person, and is preceded in death by her Father – James Lincoln Scott, her mother Helen Hillaire (Lawrence), Sisters, Katherine Tom and Marian Alvarado; Nephews – Sheldon Russell, Newt, Keith, John and Randy Tom, Donny and Lloyd John and Grand Niece, Lindsay Greene.

Esther was a member of the Lummi Tribe and descendent of the Swinomish and Upper Skagit Tribes. She was born in Marietta, Washington, January 26, 1939. She attended Chemawa Indian School at a very early age and graduated in 1957. She moved back to Bellingham and attended the Bellingham Vocational Institute. She eventually moved to California and worked at a telephone company.

When she moved back to Bellingham, she went to work for the Lummi Clinic as the Administrator. She worked at the clinic when it was located at the Old Lummi Day School. She was honored to have worked closely with Rosemary Morris, Loretta Revey, Lynette Jefferson, Barbara Juarez, and the late Ceclia “Doni” Morris, Belle Thomas, Violet Hillaire, Nurse Jolly and Judy LaClair to name a few. These were the days when each family had only one chart. She was instrumental in the early days of our clinic ensuring that all day-to-day operations were complete. Esther was always compassionate and gentle towards her fellow human beings.

Esther treated all her nieces and nephews as her own. She had good work ethics and was an inspiration to many. As busy as her schedule was, she would still find the time to make school clothes for her nieces. She was always giving.

Her memories will live on forever!