Obituary

Gretchen Louise Lira of Ferndale passed away on Wednesday, August 30^th at the age of 83.  She was born Gretchen Louise Webb on September 10, 1939 in Minneapolis, MN to Chester and Patricia Webb and moved to Los Angeles, CA at the age of 7 where she eventually attended Manual Arts High School and met her future husband.  John and Gretchen were married on May 11, 1957 in Los Angeles, CA and at the time of her death they had shared 66 wonderful years together.  They welcomed their son Johnny August 12^th, 1957 and lived in Thousand Oaks, CA until 1977 when they moved to Ferndale, WA where they opened the Mexican restaurant Tres Sombreros and she continued her work as a bookkeeper.

Gretchen enjoyed being in her gardens, dancing, shopping, and watching the birds and other wildlife from her deck.  Her greatest joy came from her role as mother and grandmother to all her physical and spiritual children and grandchildren who will remember her for her sense of humor, animated story telling of her life adventures, and for her unique way of “telling it like it is” but always from a place of love.

She was baptized as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Thousand Oaks, CA in 1965 and in 1990 her and John moved from the English congregation to the Mount Vernon Spanish congregation and from there the Bellingham Spanish congregation was formed. Gretchen continued to be a devoted Jehovah’s Witness and kept Jehovah close and held tight to her faith until the very end; a faith that gave her hope of a resurrection to a life without pain and suffering. “Look! The tent of God is with mankind, and we will reside with them, and they will be his people.  And God himself will be with them.  And he will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death with be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore.  The former things have passed away.  And the One seated on the throne said: “Look! I am making all things new. Also he says: “Write, for these words are faithful and true (Apocalypse 21: 3-5).”

She was preceded in death by her parents Chester and Patricia Webb, sisters Gloria Ridal and B.J. Reich, brother Patrick Webb, son Johnny Lira, nephew James Reich, and infant grandson Jeremy.  She is survived by her husband John Lira, grandsons Jerod and Brady Lira, granddaughters Jessica Garza and Shelby Lira, niece Stephanie (Annie) Fermelia, nephew Herb Reich, 8 great-grandchildren, and many more family members in Washington and California.

A memorial service is being held on Saturday, September 9^th at 3:00 at:

Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses                              892 W. Wiser Lake Rd., Ferndale, WA 98248