NeVada Iona Wolford

Nevada Iona Montgomery was born on November 14, 1923 in Muscatine, Iowa. She was the 6th of 7 children born to James Henry Montgomery (12/12/1890 – 4/12/1941) and Grace Batson Montgomery (11/13/1893 – 11/20/1930). She had 2 older sisters, Doris, Madge, and a younger sister, Elaine, and 3 brothers, Raymond, Howard, and Edmund. Vada, as she was affectionately called, was 7 years old when her mother died suddenly. Her older sister Doris cared for the family. Vada attended school in Muscatine. When her father was placed in a TB sanitarium, Vada lived with Doris and her husband George Kurtz and attended schools completing the 11th grade. She married Dean Orin Wolford (11/26/1919 – 10/15/1974) on December 5, 1940 in Muscatine. Dean grew up in a farming community not far from Muscatine and when Dean and Vada married they operated a 500-acre farm. Because he was a farmer, he was exempt from the draft. He left the farm and moved into the city so that and he could be soldier during WW II. He enlisted in the US Army on August 21, 1944. While he was in basic training and sent to Germany, Vada moved to Tacoma to live with her sister Doris and George Kurtz. Dean was discharged July 6, 1946 at Fort Lewis, Washington. Dean instantly fell in love with the Pacific Northwest, and did not want to return to farming in Iowa. Because Vada became pregnant with their first child shortly after he returned, he used that as an excuse not to travel back to Iowa. Vada soon figured out going home was not in Dean's plans. They lived with the Kurtz family in Tacoma and Dean went to work at the Asarco Smelter Plant. Soon they purchased a duplex on Trafton near Sixth Avenue. Their son Garry Dean was born on September 27 1946. Their daughter Deanna Jean was born on May 14, 1949. Their youngest daughter, Denise Eileen was a preemie baby born on December 6, 1952. When Denise was 3 months old, the family moved to their new home on North 8th Street, two blocks away. Vada lived in that home until October, 2007, when she moved in with Denise and Paul. In 2008, her grandson Aaron purchased the home. Vada was a young mother who enjoyed her children and her home. She was a meticulous housekeeper and enjoyed sewing and making clothing for her children. Vada and Dean did some evening work cleaning business offices out in the tide flats to earn some extra money to care for their family. Dean took on extra jobs installing roofs and repairing and rebuilding house projects. Vada and Dean and the children attended First EUB church in downtown Tacoma where Doris and George attended worship and Sunday School. When the congregation built a new building on Sixth Avenue, they were active in the construction and Vada was a SS teacher, sang in the choir, helped on Hobby nights, and taught in VBS. They participated with the children in scouting and campfire girls. Those activities and projects led to her growing interest in making candles, crafts, sewing, and other needle craft. When the children were all in school, Vada went to work for the School District as a lunchroom cashier at Lowell Elementary School. She moved into the kitchen and became a chief cook at McCarver Elementary School and then for several years at Jason Lee JHS. She worked until she retired in June, 1987. She was known for her cookies, cinnamon rolls and fresh pizza. Everything served came from recipes used in the school kitchen. She was popular and loved by the students, teachers, and staff of the school. She enjoyed cooking for her family. There were special dishes they all enjoyed, including apple dumplings in milk, hot milk and toast with cinnamon and sugar, roast beef and her home-made noodles – they all rave about her noodles and would do anything to be served first and then get the last noodle in the bowl. Everyone loved her turkey dinners and gravy. Her son in law to be, Rob Squyres, said that his weight problems really began with her Sunday dinners. And there were her Christmas cookies. She made a large 2-gallon can full of Fadiman cookies for each family, and decorated sugar cookies, and dozens of other kinds. She always made peanut brittle. There were sometimes 4 or 5 different pies for Thanksgiving and decorated cakes for birthdays and special days. One of her specialties was making frozen ice cream pie. She took cake decorating class and quickly became an excellent decorator. She made and decorated quite a number of wedding cakes for family weddings and for friends. Her 3 children graduated from Stadium HS. Vada always kept in touch with her siblings in Iowa and with Dean’s family. She always sent Christmas cards and made telephone calls to them. The family remembers some road trips to Iowa. An earlier trip was in their 1949 Ford. Another trip later on was in their 1956 Oldsmobile. They said that their dad drove fast and seldom stopped along the way. Earlier last year, Deanna and Denise went to Iowa for a family reunion. They came back with a video message on their phones from Bessie Wolford who is 94 years old. She is the only other surviving relative sibling from Vada’s and Dean’s families. She was married to Bryce, one of Dean’s brothers. Through the years she really enjoyed a variety of handicrafts. She was a seamstress, made quilts, did crocheting and knitting, cross stitch and ceramics – beautiful figures in the Christmas nativity scene. She was active in the Needle Arts Guild. There are many samples of her handiwork on display today. When Denise married Paul Kuhn in 1978, Vada’s extended family added 5 grandchildren, and eventually 10 great grandchildren. She opened her heart and life to love and welcome all of them into her family. When Garry moved to Texas, it was hard to have family so far away. Several times she flew to Texas to be with them. Garry married Kate Stevens and Vada welcomed her as her new daughter-in-law and has made a number of trips to Dallas. Her family extended to include Kate’s family. Vada had this special quality to let her love expand to include everyone. She loved to read romance novels, watch the Mariners on TV, and play games and cards. There was a big box of toys in the hall closet for the grandkids and books behind the glass doors next to the fireplace. Who can forget playing Russian Rummy, Hand and Foot, and Chicken-foot dominoes? In earlier times, Vada and Dean played pinochle with Bob and Martha, Gordon and Sarah, their children and other friends. In later years, Vada and Marilyn Kurtz, Doris’ daughter in law, played cards almost every Friday evening for many years. She’d put together puzzles with her grandchildren. There were many times when she played cards with family and friends and neighbors – anyone who happened to be there. She loved to dance and enjoyed the big band sounds of the 40’s. She welcomed family and friends, and neighbors who always came to her back door and offered a cup of coffee. She always had the pot of coffee ready and cookies and deserts. Soon after Dean had a second heart attack and died on October 15, 1974, Vada’s sister, Doris, who also was a widow, moved in with her and was there for over 22 years. “Aunt Doris” lived with her until she was hospitalized and died suddenly on December 14, 1996. As sisters, they did many things together. They continued to be active in worship, education, music, and activities of Sixth Ave UMC. Family gatherings brought the extended family together for many occasions. Because Doris’ birthday was on the 4th of July, there were always lots of family together to play softball, enjoy potato salad, bbqed burgers andhot dogs, and strawberry shortcake, and other salads and desserts, and then to watch the fireworks. There are many stories that her grandchildren remember about her. One of her favorite names for them was “Doll Baby.” When one of them would spend the night with her, they would have dinner on a TV tray and watch the “Lawrence Welk Show” and “Love Boat.” When they had programs and sporting events, she was there. When Aaron was on the Foss HS football team, the coach asked Vada to cook a huge pot of spaghetti to load the players with carbs before the home games. She enjoyed trips to the lake, and went to Disneyland and Knott’s Berry Farm. Vada’s niece Marilyn Kurtz, and her children, always called Vada “Auntie.” And Vada’s family always called their cousin “Aunt Marilyn.” She was a close and special companion for a long time. They looked out for each other. Marilyn would pick up her mail and Vada would take Marilyn to doctor’s appointments and they would go to lunch after church, and they loved to play cards, and most of all they enjoyed each other’s company. Even after Marilyn’s health concerns were serious and she moved to Hillsboro, Oregon, to be near her daughter and grandchildren. Marilyn and Vada would call each other to keep in touch with each other. In October, 2007, Vada moved to Puyallup to live with Denise and Paul so they could assist her as she began having problems with loss of memory and needed some care each day. She felt right at home and joined them at Milton UMC where Paul was pastor. She was welcomed by the congregation and enjoyed being with Denise. Other family members would come and be with her from time to time. On Christmas Eve, for many years, the family gathered at Milton and then enjoyed a family Christmas celebration. After a serious fall, Vada ended up in the hospital with a broken arm and wrist, broken heel bones, and bumps and bruises. After her hospital stay, she was in Rehab at Good Samaritan Hospital and then at Life Center Rehab in Puyallup before she was able to return home with boots and walker. Dagmar came to assist her in continuing rehab and other functions. In 2009, Georgina came to the house to assist Vada each day. In 2010, another health problem and short stay in the hospital made it necessary to go to extended care as she was recovering. In October, she moved to The Regency at Puyallup for rehab. After a short time and her inability to continue rehab, she became a permanent resident. It was convenient to have her living close to Denise and near Deanna. On her way to work, Denise would be there to assist her in preparing for her day and helping her at breakfast. Deanna often came after work and on weekends to be with her and to help her as well. When Garry was in town, he was there every day to visit with her. When the grandchildren came, and the great-grandchildren came, she brightened up and had smiles for them. During the past several months, her health issues made her life less active. Not able to stand alone, she was confined to her wheelchair. Often she was near the nurse’s station. She was loved and treated very well by all of the staff. Two weeks ago, Vada had some health events indicating that she was failing and not able to speak or respond. It was evident that she needed Hospice Care. On Monday, Hospice care began and they assisted in keeping her comfortable. Her children were with her each day. They surrounded her with their love and concern, with music, and prayers. Her life came to a peaceful close at 4 am. All of us who knew her and were close to her always appreciated all the seemingly little things she did. She loved the people who were close to her and there was nothing she wouldn’t do for any of us. She travelled with us and the children, she was with us at the lake or ocean, and up at the mountain, but she didn’t like being in or on the water. She loved serving good food, tempting desserts, and sharing the leftovers. She was a loving person and always had a smile. She remembered birthdays and did special things for her grandchildren. She will be remembered for all the things she did at the church. She was always in the kitchen to help prepare and serve refreshments and dinners. She was faithful in her commitments to her family, her faith, and her friends. Not only her family and friends will miss her, all of us who knew her and were touched by her life are blessed by her personal gifts of love and life lived among us. Vada will be loved and cherished by her family: Three children, 10 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren, and one great-great-granddaughter, her extended family of nieces and nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews, and many friends, neighbors and colleagues. She was preceded in death by her husband, Dean, her mother and father, and all her sisters and brothers.