Lester Earl Elijah
July 13, 1923 - June 7, 2013
Obituary
Lester Earl Elijah Jr.
Born July 13, 1923 in Tacoma, WA, passed away June 7 with his wife, Joyce and daughter Gayle at his side. Les is pre-deceased by his son, Larry, and is survived by his cherished wife of over 66 years, Joyce, two brothers, Allen Elijah (wife Bambi) of Snohomish and William Griffin (wife Rose) of Bellingham, daughter Gayle Elijah of Tacoma (husband Gary), son Steven Elijah of Spokane (wife Janna), daughter Lisa Elijah of Seattle, and daughter in-law Vickie of Federal Way. From their 4 children, Les is survived by 11 grandchildren, and 6 great grandchildren. “Grandpa Hugs” will be missed.
Les was a true Western Washingtonian who spent his early life in the rural Skagit Valley area. He and his brother Allen lost their Father, Lester Sr. at a very young age. Their hard-working mother, Ruth, remarried and gave Les and Allen a baby brother Bill. Les graduated from Sumas Nooksack High School, worked at Boeing, and served a stint in the army during World War II. He met his wife to be when he was stationed in San Francisco and she was a singer with the USO. They married in 1946 and Les convinced Frisco born and raised Joyce, that the great Northwest was the place for them to start a life. They settled in the Seattle area, where Les enrolled at the University of Washington. Their first child, Gayle, was born while living at the KJR radio station where Les was working at as a groundskeeper among other odd jobs to support the family and him through school. Les began his teaching career at Bainbridge Island High School and continued going to UW to earn his Masters Degree.
After a few years of teaching, Les found his niche and developed his gift to be able to teach children who, though otherwise smart enough, could not read. They were labeled as “learning disabled”. This became his main field of endeavor. At the age of forty-two with his wife, four children and a dog, he went on invitation from a professor at the University of Michigan, back to school and earned a PhD in Educational Psychology. Les and his family moved back to the Northwest and he worked as Director of Reading in the Tacoma Public Schools. He was a real “teacher’s teacher”.
In his retirement, Les was an avid golfer, once hitting a hole in one and never letting the climate hinder his intent to play. He loved going the horse races and playing fantasy football with his sons & grandsons, duplicate bridge, tending to his saltwater fish tank, reading, Sudoku puzzles, and accompanying his wife to the theatre to see plays and symphonies and taking one for the team at operas. He and Joyce traveled many areas of the world from The Great Wall of China to the Pyramids of Egypt to the African Serengeti. Les helped and supported his wife with her professional work and was well adept at preparing dinners for two. For a time, Les even teamed with Joyce to do “couples therapy” workshops. He was a patient man who treated everyone he met with kindness and interest. He truly valued his family above all by easily giving his time, understanding, appreciation, tight loving hugs, and often beautiful words of sentiment at many a family gathering.
Les richly practiced the 4 “L’s” of life by Living well, Laughing often, Loving true & Learning along the way. He was so very much loved by his family and friends and will live on in the hearts of all who knew him.
The Family greatly appreciates the loving care Les received from Saidu Sesay and his staff at “A Luxurious Experience Adult Family Home” in Federal Way. Donations in honor of Les’s life can be made to The Alzheimer’s Association and Senior Services Seattle/King County.
My condolences to the entire family. I met Les when I was a reading teacher. He shared his expertise with us so we could help young students become proficient readers. Later in my career I had the pleasure of becoming friends and working with his daughter Gayle.
I can’t remember exactly when my deceased wife, Anne, and I met Les and Joyce. I think it was due to their connection with the renowned family therapist, Virginia Satir.
Les could put the dots together and saw the need for public funding of campaigns and supported efforts to achieve that as a way to have a more just government.
May his energy from above still be with us.
Les and Joyce was our neighbor at Redondo 700. Les was always kind of heart and spirit and will be missed. Our sincere condolences to his family and friends.
This obituary for Les is beautiful. It captured him as the loving man I came to know as a friend of Gayle’s. He left the world a much better place. He touched the future, he taught! Thank you Les it was an honor to know you.
As Director of Reading for the Tacoma Public Schools, Les provided a great service to teachers. He held supportive meetings focusing on dealing with techniques to deal with basic language skills. It was a great passion from which everyone who knew him benefited.
My wonderful thoughts and memories are with you.
Hugs
Wendy
The love and joy received from Les will accompany my son Basile and me all our life. What a wonderful caring man!
I send my love to Joyce and all his family. You are in our hearts.
We met Les and Joyce through the Virginia Satir IHLRN organization. But we were lucky enough to be close by, also living in the Great North West. We enjoyed number of Northwest events at their home.
Les was bright, thoughtful, & present. We always felt loved in his presence. I an now again thinking of our time & connection with him. He will be missed and treasured by many of us.
I knew Lester as a child when he and his family lived across the street from our family in Sumas, WA. I had a Boston Terrier dog that seemed to like Lester and his brother Allen more than he liked me. As the dog ran across the street to their place he was hit by a car and killed. The boys buried my dog. That was a mere 75 years ago. I am pleased to learn of his impressive accomplishments during his fruitful life.
I celebrate the short time Les and I were friends. We experience 20,000 moments each day of our lives and I did my best to make the most of my moments with Les.
Time is the most valuable gift one person can give to another.
Peter
It was with great joy and pleasure that I worked with Les for several years as a Reading Resource Teacher for Tacoma Public Schools. He was an outstanding leader with incredible integrity and intelligence, whose high regard for all of us as professionals encouraged us to develop and grow exponentially. He nurtured our diverse interests, and fostered collegial learning, making each of us feel like vital contributors to the wonderful world of childrens’ learning. His impact on teaching and learning in Tacoma Schools, for children and teachers alike, was enormous. Thank you, Les.
Les was always a bright light, & kind person, in my time with him at IHLRN. We shared our teaching interests & experiences. He was a beautiful person; & even though I haven’t seen him in recent years, I’ll always remember him and be grateful he was in my life. God bless you, Joyce.
Les and Joyce were our next-door neighbors at Redondo 700. They were instrumental in making us feel at home when we moved into our condo. We found inspiration in their many activities in the community. Our condolences, Joyce and family, on the loss of a truly special man.
Les was a great friend who taught me how to play bridge and golf. He always included me in his golfing group even though I was a drag on their play.
I will always remember the day he had a heart attack on the fourth tee after I had on of my best drives and he insisted that we play because he did not me to waste a good drive.
I will miss Les.
I first met Les when he and Joyce came to my Yoga For Seniors class at the Federal Way Community Center a few years ago. He was delightful, playful, and determined to learn yoga–and he did! I could see that he had a love of learning and trying new things, and enjoyed life and people. My condolences to you and your family, Joyce, I know you will all miss him greatly. May you find comfort in the many wonderful memories you have with him.