Our beloved mother and grandma passed away on September 9, 2025 after a long and devoted life. She was 93. Her family and her faith meant everything to her, and she left our side with the comfort of knowing she will join the Lord in heaven.
Born to Ray and Wanda Lewis in Duchesne, Utah during the Great Depression, Lorraine was the oldest of eight children. The family moved several times during her childhood, remaining in Provo, Utah after high school. She held several jobs, including working at a drugstore soda fountain, a photography studio, and as a nanny to a wealthy family. She met Nyle D. Adamson while he was on leave from his service in the Army and were married on October, 16, 1954, when Lorraine was 22. Nyle went into the construction trade and they moved several times following his work. In 1958, their son, Randy was born. The next year, after moving to Powell, Wyoming, Suzanne was born. Then, at the age of 29, Lorraine became a widow when Nyle died in a car accident while coming from work. This event changed the trajectory of her life. With two small children, Lorraine moved to Utah where she had the support of her family, enabling her to enroll in a secretarial school to learn medical administration. After graduation, she worked at several hospitals in Salt Lake City. She loved the work, especially her years working at the children’s hospital.
In 1967, looking for a fresh start in another city, Lorraine chose to move to the Pacific Northwest. Although the original plan was to move to Portland, she followed her sister to Seattle instead – another event that shaped her life. Lorraine settled in Burien with her children and became the office manager for a cardiologist, Dr. Andrus, where she worked the remainder of her career. She met her future husband while working there, as Dr. Andrus was one of his accounting clients. It was also during these years that she developed her love of classical music, jazz, opera, ballet and art. Although she didn’t have the opportunity to attend university, Lorraine was an avid reader of philosophy and the humanities and valued her collection of classic books and music albums.
Lorraine was a devoted and hard-working mother. As a single parent on an office worker’s salary, it was often a struggle, but Lorraine took pride in providing for her family without assistance, sometimes taking on a second job to make ends meet. Lorraine took a great deal of pride in her home and would rather take months to buy a quality item than settle for less. She had high standards taught her children the importance of doing things right. She instilled a strong sense of duty, hard work, and manners in her children. It was important to have the table set properly, thank you notes hand-written, and proper etiquette followed. Even in her final years, she wanted a properly set table! Even though she was raising her family on her own, she made sure her children were enrolled in scouting, Little League, and other activities she could afford. Lorraine was a very giving person, often volunteering at their activities. During the Vietnam War, she found time to volunteer at the USO lounge at SeaTac Airport.
In 1979, after her children were grown, Lorraine married Bill Leavens. They made their home in West Seattle overlooking the Fauntleroy ferry dock and Lincoln Park. In the mid-80s, Lorraine retired from her job and devoted her time to her home, her garden, her church, her beloved grandchildren, and a succession of cats. She loved hosting family gatherings at their house, with every holiday and birthday being a special occasion. Lorraine was very devoted to her faith and enjoyed spending time at bible study. Lorraine also loved to travel, and she and Bill went on trips to Tahiti, Isreal, Mexico, Hawaii, and cruises to the Caribbean and Alaska, as well as annual trips to Montana and Utah. They were married nearly 41 years, when Bill passed away in 2020 of Alzheimer’s.
In 2017, Lorraine moved into Merrill Gardens in Burien. She met many friends there and would love that she is remembered as “such a sweet lady.” As her health declined, Lorraine was lovingly cared for by her primary caregivers, Andrea and Maria, the Merrill Gardens’ care aides, and the hospice care team. Our family is incredibly grateful to them all.
Lorraine was preceded in death by her husbands, Nyle (1961) and Bill (2020), four of her seven siblings, and her son, Randy. She is survived by her daughter, Suzanne Pinney, her husband Rick, stepdaughter Candy Lubansky, and her husband Rick. She is also survived by her four grandchildren: Brian Schwartz and wife Allison, Nyle Adamson and wife Megan, Margaux Pinney and husband Ahmad Nabhan, and Katie Pinney; and her 6 great-grandchildren.
A memorial service in Lorraine’s honor will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, September 30 at Bonney Watson Funeral Home, SeaTac, Washington. A reception will follow at Merrill Gardens in Burien. In lieu of flowers please consider a donation in remembrance of her husband, Bill, to the Alzheimer’s Association, or to the Union Gospel Mission in Seattle.
