Maybelle E. Garrison

Maybelle E. Garrison, 101, died at home on November 19, 2012. She was very active until her final day, enjoying the embroidery work she was so adept at, reading and taking care of her cat, Baxter. She was born to Michael and Sidsel Lunde on July 24, 1911 in Williston, North Dakota and raised in Epping North Dakota. She was preceded in death by her siblings, Blanche V. Gowers, Walter E. Lunde, Lawrence M. Lunde and Norman B. Lunde. She was a tomboy by nature and enjoyed her upbringing on the large farm her father owned. In 1918 when Maybelle was seven and her sister, Blanche five, their Aunt Gunda bought each of them a suitcase for their dolls and dolls clothing. The war was in full force and Kaiser Bill was running amok! The two girls decided Kaiser Bill wasn’t going to get their dolls, so they tied two ropes to the suitcases and down the cistern they went! After knowing their dolls were safe, they sang a little song. Kaiser Bill went up the hill To take a look at France Kaiser Bill came down the hill With bullets in his pants! She rode her horse, Jerry, at age 10, by herself into town to sell cream and eggs. When she occasionally found herself with a nickel or dime in her pocket, the money was never spent on candy. She gladly forked the coins over for a lemon, a rare treat indeed. At age 12, she went, along with another girl and two boys on a cattle roundup. They bunked in haylofts along the way, caught and cooked bullfrogs to eat and enjoyed the breathtaking scenery on the Badlands. They came upon a railroad crossing and all of the cattle except three calves went across the tracks. Maybelle heard a train whistle blowing and, looking to her right saw the “Flyer” speeding out of a clump of trees, hurtling down the tracks. She didn’t have time to think, just cracked her whip and the three animals jumped across the tracks. She didn’t have time to get across because in the next second, the train was right in front of her. Her horse panicked and reared upon his hind legs. This was a scary, harrowing experience for young Maybelle. In 1923, after seven years of draught, the bank in Epping went broke and Mike decided to move his family west. In January of 1924 Maybelle, along with her family moved to Whatcom County in Washington settling on the corner of the Central and Lunde roads. In 1946, Maybelle bought a ten-acre farm on the Central road and has resided there ever since. As a teenager, Maybelle played baseball, left fielder, for Whatcom County and won a blue ribbon for her prowess. She moved to Seattle in 1930 working at various jobs then had a chance to buy a small restaurant. She named the place Blondies Waffle Shop and did quite well. She met her future husband, Jack Nash, at the waffle shop. Jack was in the Merchant Marine and they married on November 11, 1934. They were later divorced. Maybelle then went to work for American Optical as an optician. She made this her life’s work. Maybelle met and married her second husband, Gary “Joe” Garrison on November 1, 1945 and the couple moved to Bellingham. She went to work for Dr. Roy Freeman at Binyon Optometrists in Bellingham until her retirement in 1972. Her husband, Joe, Passed away in 1962 at age 42. Maybelle was very busy, working full time and rising at 4:30 in the morning to milk the cows, feed the pigs take care of her other animals and all before leaving for work. She had a life-long love of animals, owning numerous dogs and cats and during World War II sold one of her German Sheppards, Prince, to the military and the dog was shipped to Korea to serve. Maybelle was a member of Toastmasters and the V.F.W. and has always been a strong supporter of our veterans. Having no children of her own, Maybelle doted on her nieces and nephews, keenly feeling the loss of her nephew Ron Lunde, who died in 1993 from cancer caused by Agent Orange contracted while serving in Viet Nam. She is survived by her nephews, Lorry (Helen) Lunde of Redding, CA, Gary Lunde of Puyallup, WA, and Byron (Bonnie) Lunde of Goodyear, AZ. Her nieces, Darlene Johnson of Fife, WA, Carmen Lunde of Kodiak, AK, Jerilyn (Willie) Fisch of Bingen, WA, Marion (Ed) Saari of Walla Walla, WA, Amelia Lunde of Bellingham and Susan (Frank) Priebe of Everson, WA. She is also survived by numerous great and great-great nieces and nephews. She will be missed by not only relatives, but by many friends. Della Johnson and Joanne Compton, both of Whatcom County, have been very close with Maybelle and have gone out of their way to extend help and kindness to her. She touched all who knew her with her sense of humor, her generosity and, inspired all with her zest for life. Graveside services will be held Friday, November 30, at 1:00 p.m. at Bayview Cemetery. A reception will follow. Contributions in Maybelle’s memory may be sent to the Humane Society, the V.F.W. and the Wounded Warriors. Please share memories online at www.farewelltributes.com Moles Farewell Tributes-Bellingham Farewell Tribute Information Graveside services will be held Friday, November 30, at 1:00 p.m. at Bayview Cemetery. A reception will follow. Donations Information Contributions in Maybelle’s memory may be sent to the Humane Society, the V.F.W. and the Wounded Warriors.

Maybelle E. Garrison

July 24, 1911 - November 19, 2012