Obituary

Anna Florence Jackson was born November 30, 1927 in Garfield, WA. After an extended illness, she passed away December 20, 2016 at Whatcom Hospice. She was 89 years old.

William Buell Tooker was born December 14, 1923 in Omak, WA. On January 16, 2017 Bill passed away at Peace Health Hospital in Bellingham after a brief illness. He was 94 years old.

Bill served in the U.S. Navy during WWII. When he returned to Bellingham he met Ann at Woolworth’s department store. They were married December 5, 1947 in Bellingham and were married for 69 years. During the early years of their marriage Bill held several different jobs trying to find the right one in a post war economy. Their oldest daughter Cheryl Ann was born in Bellingham. They then moved to Redding, CA looking for work. That is where their youngest daughter Helen Christine was born.

Returning to Bellingham, Bill applied to the Bellingham Police Department and found a career. While on the department he was one of the first motorcycle officers and also worked with police dogs. Bill began as a patrolman and worked up to Assistant Chief, retiring in May of 1972. Ann stayed at home but when the girls were in middle school she entered the workforce as an Elevator Operator at Wahls department store, but choose to stay home most of the time raising dahlias which she became well known for. She grew every type from dinner plate to pom pom sized.

From early on camping was a regular event. The family loved to fish and camping sites were chosen with the local lakes in mind. Their daughters learned to enjoy the outdoors, animals and landscape.

Bill and Ann enjoyed many different activities through the years including; Square dancing, rock hounding, lapidary, faceting the stones they collected and teaching others how to. They became “snowbirds” enjoying the people they met and the scenery they traveled to including areas of known rock sites to collect more stones. In later years Bill and Ann became avid garage salers making new friends and finding great bargains.

Survived by their two daughters Cheryl Ann (Josh) Tooker and Helen Christine and husband Don Florence, and 3 Grandchildren; William and wife Jacqueline Josh, Michelle Larsen and Sarah Florence, 8 great-grandchildren and 5 great-great grandchildren. Bill and Ann enjoyed their family very much and have left them with many good memories.