Elizabeth "Liz" Lindsay

Liz was born on September 25 1928 in Spokane WA. to Julia C. (Samson) and Alexander J. Lindsay. Following a legacy of independent, creative and service oriented women, those attributes supported Liz's path throughout her life. Born as the only child of her mother, she joined her three half siblings who were much older-- she described herself as the baby of the family with much special doting. Growing up in the house her father built at that time on a wooded Maple St. on the South Hill, this home held special memories. To her mother's dismay, she was considered a tomboy, playing various activities and games with her neighborhood friends including climbing trees, street baseball and her favorite sport, touch football. Her friend Barney helped her make a model airplane she entered in the Sportsmen Fair when she was six. She won first prize for girls but she did admit she was the only girl to enter. Pets were an important part of her family's life. Goldfish, turtles and her cocker spaniel "Peaches". When she was five, she had a pet bunny, "Teddy-pink-eye". Teddy made national news and Liz was featured holding Teddy with Peaches on the front page by the Associate Press after it kicked a German Shepard in the face and chased the dog out of the yard! School started, to her delight, at a young age. Due to a polio outbreak, school was delayed allowing her to enter the first grade at the age of five. Described as peppy, Liz was busy in many activities around the school: she was talented violinist and involved in science, service and leadership activities, and she graduated with honors from Lewis and Clark High School at the age 16. Fond memories growing up were filled with time shared with her father, visiting him at work, fishing at Newman Lake, visits to Grand Coulee Dam to monitor the progress of construction and helping tend a Victory Garden during the war. She grew up with Camp Fire Girls spending her summers at Camp Swyolakan on Lake Coeur d'Alene, her high school and college summers as a counselor, life guard and playing morning Reveille and evening Taps on her bugle. Church was a strong foundation that carried her through her life. She was baptized and married and later returned after her retirement to First Presbyterian Church, Spokane. After high school she attended Whitman College, receiving her Bachelor Degree in Biology. Aside from her studies, she was active with Kappa Kappa Gamma and the Walla Walla Symphony Orchestra. After many dates to the college library to study, she married her college sweetheart Roy Nilson and after graduation and they moved to Illinois as Roy continued school. During this time their sons Steve and Bruce were born. After Roy's graduation, they returned to Washington state, where Claudia and Sarah were born. The family settled in the small town of Benton City to raise the family. She referred to herself as "a suburban housewife" for 35 years. "I raised four children, surviving Den mothering with Cub Scouts and Campfire leading while enjoying involvement in church and community." Liz was a community activator volunteering for church, school and community, receiving recognition by her peers, and receiving the Woman of Achievement Award in 1968. As her children began to move on to their own independent lives, she returned to school, ran for public office before starting her 24-year career with the Federal government. She started working with the Atomic Energy Commission in Richland and later as a security escort at a nuclear reactor. In 1986 she got a call from the government asking if she would like to work with the U.S. Army in Korea. Her answer was an immediate "yes." She served for 10 years as a civilian for the 1st Signal Brigade in Soul Korea as a management analyst. This allowed her travel through the De-Militarized Zone and visits to Japan, Guam and Alaska. She didn't forget to take her skis and described "skiing down snowy hills and gazing at rice paddies as unique for a native of Washington State". Many of her fondest memories of Korea was working with a group of young Koreans to help them polish their English before the 1988 Olympic Games as they might serve as guides and interpreters for the games. Attending the Olympic Games she described was an "unexpected bonus". In 1996, she returned to the states continuing to work for the U.S. Army before retiring in 2000 while serving the U.S. Army Recruiting Command in Fort Knox KY. During the early years of retirement she returned to her home of Spokane to be closer to family. She resumed her devotion to community service, involvement with the church she grew up in, picking up her violin again, while still making time to travel. Even her travel centered around service. She participated in counting dolphins in Belize, visited orphanages in India, and represented her great aunt Mary Agnus Snively, the "Mother of Canadian Nursing" at a the centennial celebration of the Canadian Nurses Association in Ottawa Canada. Health needs necessitated a move closer to family thus her final move to the Wenatchee Valley. Living out of the country while her eight grandchildren were born and growing, she missed many milestones of their early years. Shortly after her move, her second great granddaughter was born. As she held this great granddaughter within a few short hours of her birth she looked up saying "I don't think I ever held a baby this young". Her two young granddaughters grew up in front her eyes. She loved attending preschool graduations, Christmas programs, holidays with decorating Valentine cookies and making gingerbread houses. Liz lived a life of love, leaning and living. Rarely did she turn down a challenge. She has left her own legacy and it will live on in those those whose lives she has touched. Liz is preceded in death by mother Julia C. (Samson) Lindsay; father, Alexander Lindsay; brothers Steward and Jim Lindsay; sister Helen C. James and her ex-husband, Roy Nilson; She is survived by her sons: Stephen A. Nilson and wife Sharon of Milton-Freewater, OR; Burce V. Nilson, unknown; Claudia S. Nilson of East Wenatchee WA.; Sara Nilson Bos and husband Glen of Yakima, WA.; Grandchildren: Adam J. Baker and wife Andrea of Cle Elum WA.; Erik E.Baker of East Wenatchee; Lisa A. Baker of Wenatchee WA.; Alex S. Nilson of Nashville, TN.; Michael K. Nilson of Toledo, OR.; Caleb W. Bos of Yakima WA.; Erin L. Bos of Ellensburg, WA.; and Megan S. Bos of Tigard, OR. Great Grandchildren: Lindsey S. Baker of Wenatchee, WA.; Kaella D. Watt of Wenatchchee WA; Special Friends: Barb Jones of Wenatchee, WA.; Eun Jin Chung of India, preciously Seoul, Korea; and Sharon Rhoads of Kennewick, WA. The family wishes to acknowledge: the loving family and caregivers at Tuscany Cottage, Malaga, WA, Misty, Melanie, Veronica, Cecelia, Michelle, Monica and Amanda; Karl Lambert ARNP for his supporting care of her "many lives". A memorial service will take place on Friday March 11, 2022 at 2:00 p.m. at Chapel of the Valley, 302 Ninth St. East Wenatchee, Scott Langager officiating. Burial will be held at a later date at Fairmount Memorial Park, Spokane, Washington. Feel free to leave an online condolence at www.chapelofthevalleyncw.com. Arrangements are by Chapel of the Valley, East Wenatchee WA. Memorial Gifts in Liz's memory can be given to Camp Sweyolakan, Lake Coeur d'Alene. Checks can be mailed to: Camp Fire USA Inland Northwest Council, 409 N. Argonne St B, Spokane Valley, WA 99212 Credit cards can be accepted at the website: www.campfireinc.org by clicking Donate Now and putting her name in comments.

Elizabeth "Liz" Lindsay

September 25, 1928 - February 4, 2022