Loretta Alice Sayre
April 21, 1914 - May 7, 2012
Obituary
Loretta told this story to her caregivers at Sunrise Assisted Living where she lived for 7 years. She was 90 years old. She was born in Renville, Minnesota on April 21, 1914, when she was three months old her family moved to Tacoma, WA where she lived for many years. She only had one older sister but she says with a grin, “I would have loved to have had a brother…but I didn’t.” They were 14 months apart so they “grew up like twins.” When Loretta was 3 or 4 years old, she decided to try on her sister’s sandals. These sandals were large for Loretta so as she walked down the slippery wood plank sidewalk she slipped and cut her lip. Her Mother came running to help her and she put her in a buggy to go to the doctor’s house. After a bumpy ride her Mother decided to carry her the rest of the way. The doctor lived down the street in a gigantic stone house. Loretta felt she was going into a cave and was very frightened. The doctor put a little peroxide on the wound and sent them back home. Loretta’s mother figured she would get some stitches to help heal the wound. She still has a V shaped scar on her lower lip.
Loretta always wanted to go to college. She was raised during the depression and they had no extra money. After High school, she worked at JC Penny’s as a clerk. Then she went to work at the Borden Company in the chemical division. She worked in Kent even though it was an international company. Loretta said with a smile “They were international but didn’t send me anywhere but Kent.” She went to school and took accounting classes to make up for her desire to go to college. This schooling helped her with Inventory Accounting job for Borden. She received a nice retirement.
After retiring, she traveled. One memorable trip was when she went to Alaska with her two younger sons to visit her oldest son living there. Her son Rex was 15 at the time and he was her driving relief. They had to fjord streams and cross a river in a 2 car ferry boat. On the boat, she said her boys wanted to get out of the car but she only let them look out the window. The only wildlife they came across was a large moose in the middle of the road. She said, “They are huge. You could drive your car under them.”
Loretta is very proud of her family. She met her husband at a Halloween party his cousin was throwing. After two years of courting they were married. During the next 15 years Loretta had 4 children each approximately 5 years apart. Loretta said, “I always had a baby that’s what keeps me young.
”Loretta’s Words of Wisdom are “Enjoy life. Have fun.”
So sorry for your loss. We all loved Loretta. So many memories as I think back to our time on 154th. The picnics with the volunteer firemen. The games we played like kick-the-can all summer long. The bike rides and all those fun times on the beach at the Amick’s. I miss those fun filled summer days, tho I do have many many memories. We love you and you are in our prayers especially at this time. We plan to see you Tuesday.
It was so much fun to serve with you as officers in Vesterdalen Lodge, Sons of Norway. You always were so quick with the witty answers. We will miss you.
It is always hard to lose your mother, not matter her age or yours.
I just loved Loretta. Sandra & I have been friends since elementary school, and Rex became my brother-in-law, I feel she is family.
When I was little and at her house, she asked me if I wanted a tuna sandwich. I said yes, and then she prceeded to put tuna in some lettuce and told me she was having “tuna in a blanket”. I thought that was the most clever thing I’d ever heard. I reminded her of that about 6 months ago…..she laughed that I would remember such a little thing.
I will miss her!
So glad we got to see you last summer, Retta! Miss you forever, Grandma #3 🙂
So sorry for your loss, Sandra and family… you had a sweet, sweet, wonderful, funny and loving momma!
The photo above is EXACTLY like I remember her.
Condolences to the family from Vesterdalen Lodge, Sons of Norway, in Auburn, WA. She is fondly remembered.
A Mother Daughter Bond Like No Other
Mom taught me to laugh and sing
being her only little girl
Mom listened without interfering
to the young married daughter of hers
Mom was there with wisdom and advice
when the daughter became a mother
Mom drove the distance to care for grandchildren
after daughter moved away further
Mother and daughter traveled near and far
When the children left the nest
And, as mother grew older
she needed more help around her home
When life moved daughter to Snohomish
mom followed, so as not to be alone
As the years passed I became mothers caretaker
and daughter was no longer my role
Mother became the child I would put to bed at night
and tears would fill my eyes, a witness to this sight
The gift she gave me was now hers to enjoy
as I played familiar hymns bringing peace, comfort and joy
Mother and daughter knew
their time together was soon to end
I held her as Jesus took her
our earthy bond was broken
But we have the promise from God to be reunited above
where once again we’ll share a bond like no other,
a mother and daughter’s love
I’ll love you forever, Sandra
I was saddened to read about Loretta’s passing. Today she was remembered during Prayers for the People at Glendale Lutheran, her church for many years…I also included prayers for Rex, Taffi and Sandra and their families. My thoughts and prayers continue.
I remember growing up with Max & Loretta being my parents best friends and playing with the boys and Sandy. We all did lots of fun things together – fishing at Stensen’s resort, living during the summer, on Des Moines Beach and The Sayre’s coming over to spend time with us plus fishing in the annual fishing derby. I just loved your mom – she had a great sense of humor and always with a smile on her beautiful face. It has been many years since we’ve seen one another, but I have many wonderful memories. My heart goes out to all of you..you’re in my thoughts and prayers.
The Sayre family have always had ties to ours. Tom and I went all through the Highline Schools together, Rex is my brother-in-law and Sandra in my sister’s best friend. I last saw Loretta at a Business and Professional Womens convention where I was judging a young careerists contest. She said, she remembered me as one of those Martini girls. May she rest in peace. condolances to her family.
I’ve always loved you so much. As a very little girl I thought of you and Max as Lucille Ball and John Wayne – my heros!! Through all the years you’ve been there for me, Dennis, Sarah and Miss Mia & Vince, you are a treasure to our family. Your beautiful smile and infectious laughter will always be in my heart. I know you’re up in heaven with all the other angels and I look forward to seeing you again someday.
If it wasn’t for my grandmother I wouldn’t know much about my Norwegian Heritage. Grandma got me involved in the Sons of Norway Youth Camps as a 9 year old, and it has been a large part of my life since then. I am so thankful that she did this for me, I’ve had so many wonderful experiences and met so many people that have also become like family to me. Now this is something that I can pass down to my children so they will also have a special connection to her. Grandma’s loving spirit will always be with me every time I make krumkake or listen to Norwegian music!
It is with a grateful but heavy heart I write this tribute to my Aunt Loretta. We are witness to the end of a wonderful generation…the people that raised us, gave us such joy and established in our minds what the word “family” is all about.
The moment with Aunt Loretta that is etched in my heart happened the day of my Dad’s funeral. I sat on our front porch a 10-year-old girl, worried about what our lives would be like now that Daddy was gone. Aunt Loretta saw me sitting by myself and she sat down beside me and held me. She said to me “Your Daddy will always be here for you. He will watch over you from heaven. He will rejoice when you are happy and lift you up when you are sad. Call his name and you will feel him beside you.”
So, if I can offer you any words of comfort during this time I think the best words are hers. She will watch over you from heaven. She will rejoice when you are happy and lift you up when you are sad. Call her name and you will feel her beside you.
Well done thou good and faithful servant.
For the past 20 yrs., I have been blessed to call Loretta my mother-in-law. While many of my friends roll their eyes and complain about their mothers-in-law, I was thankful for being accepted by a truly great “mom” who was king, giving and always supportive. She loved her family and cherished every day the Lord gave her. She had a great sense of humor and I am reminded of an incident that took place a year or so ago while she was living with Sandra. Sandra wanted to spend a few hours away from the house and figured mom would be okay with a few notes written down for review. And you know, if an emergency should arise, you can always dial 911. Well, a short time later, Sandra got a call from the police letting her know that someone dialed 911 and hung up. When they went to investigate, no one would come to the door and when they looked in the window, the individual still would not come to the door. So, once back home and everything was okay, Sandra asked mom, why did you call 911 and why didn’t you answer the door? Mom just wanted to see if they would come and when they were peeking in the window, she just thought they were being smartalicks! Mom’s long journey has ended and she is back home where she belongs. But, we are left with many good memories. Love you mom.
I came to know Loretta when I as the Activity Director for Sunrise in Snohomish. Because of my work and volunteering activities, I have become friends with numerous seniors. Loretta will stand out in my memory as having the most delightful, endearing, and may I say, slightly devilish smile of them all. I know that anyone who knew her is very blessed to have had that smile in his or her life.
One of the most Beautiful people I ever knew!
I would like to express my deepest sympathy for the loss of your loved one. Death is one of the most difficult things we face in life but may it comfort you to know that others care. I have found great encouragement when reading the beautiful words penned in the Bible at Isaiah 25:8 “He will swallow up death forever, and the Sovereign Lord Jehovah will certainly wipe the tears from all faces.” May this promise bring your family comfort in this difficult time.