Violet Mary Wamsley

Violet Mary Wamsley was born in Edmonds, Washington on September 8, 1916. She passed away in her beloved hometown of Edmonds on September 10, 2013 at the age of 97. Violet was the fourth of five children born to George and Carrie (Yost) Astell. Growing up, she watched her grandmother and uncles manage and operate the A.M. Yost Estate Incorporated which included the Edmonds Spring Water Company, the Edmonds Telephone Company, the Edmonds-Seattle Stage, the Yost Auto Company, A.M Yost and Sons (shingle mill and lumber yard) and the Edmonds Opera House. She played violin in the school orchestra and worked stage crew on school drama productions. She graduated from Edmonds High School in 1934. After high school, she attended business college where she studied business and office administration. As a teenager and young woman, Violet held several jobs including telephone operator and administrative support positions at Pointer-Willamette and Pacific Car and Foundry. Later, she worked as a legal secretary for private law firms and as a bookkeeper for several downtown Edmonds businesses. While she never really identified herself as such, in many ways Violet was a feminist ahead of her times. She firmly believed a woman could do almost any job a man could do and she strongly believed in equal pay for equal work. In 1938, Violet married Burdette Morse. They had two children, Gerald and Patricia. Violet and Burdette were divorced in 1952. In 1956, Violet married Willard Wamsley. They had one son, Jeffrey. In 1965, Violet and Willard moved the family home from their lifelong hometown of Edmonds to Arlington, Washington. They bought a struggling Coast-to-Coast Stores and over the next twenty-five years turned it into one of the leading hardware stores in the area. They retired in 1990 and dedicated themselves to traveling, camping and being there for their grandchildren. In 2000, after 35 years in Arlington, Willard and Violet returned home to the Edmonds area. Outside of work and family, Violet studied Spanish and volunteered as a guardian ad litem and information center host. She was a member of the Business and Professional Womens Foundation and served as the local chapter president and the district director. Violet enjoyed and will be especially remembered for the following:l Reading varied pieces from news and stock market reports to dime store and Harry Potter novels to biographies and great authors such as Dickens and Dostoyevsky; Camping at many campsites throughout the western states and on the family lot at Lake Connor Park; Traveling throughout the Pacific Northwest and British Columbia, the Alaskan Highway, the Southwest, California, Nashville, Dallas, Hawaii, Mexico and Peru; Blackberry picking and blackberry pies blackberry picking was both an art and a science and the pies were one of a kind; Chocolate chip cookies they cure all ills; Midnight potato salad hers was a favorite, but it had to be made after midnight to have that special flavor; Her political views lets just say red wasnt her favorite color; Spending time with her family.l Violet was a dedicated wife, mother, grandmother, daughter, sister, aunt, cousin and friend. She had a great sense of humor and always looked for the positive in everything. She rarely said a bad word about anyone. She had a way of making you feel positive about yourself even when there wasnt much reason to do so. You always thought you were the most special person in the world to her. She was hard-working, humble, ever-forgiving and selfless. Most of all, Violet was kind. Throughout her life, she personified the expression, kindness is to do and say the kindest things in the kindest way. Violet is survived by her loving and dedicated husband of 56 years, Willard and her three children, Gerald Morse (Victoria), Patricia Moores and Jeffrey Wamsley. In addition, she is survived by fourteen grandchildren: Andrea Marlow (Don), Stacy Ash (John), Michael Morse, Carrie Morse (Jeff Gowenlock), Kyle Hudlow, Thomas Moores (Juanita), James Moores (Elisabeth), Stephen Moores, Jeffrey Moores (Tamara), Amy Moores, Madison Moores, Travis Wamsley, Justin Wamsley (Nichole) and Joseph Wamsley; eleven great-grandchildren: John Ash, Robert Ash, Chelsey Morse, Bradey Morse, Kody Nelson, Rikki Nelson (Nathan Mauldin), Breanna Chaffin, Madeline Garavaglia (Aron), Olivia Moores, Nevaeh Wamsley and Jennessy Wamsley; two great-great-grandchildren: Trinity Humphrey and Landyn Mauldin and many cousins, nieces and nephews, most of whom were her children, too. Violet was preceded in death by her parents, George and Carrie Astell, her four siblings, Lillie Peacey, James Astell, Rose Manning and Fern Schoppert, one grandson and several nieces and nephews. With her passing, the leadership of the Astell-Yost family passes to the next generation. Sweet Violet, thank you for touching all of our lives. Now it is time for you to rest in peace. Your work here on earth is done, and it will live on forever in each and every one of us. Announcement: Memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society or the Edmonds Historical Society.