Inez Mae Self

Our beloved, beautiful, spirited mother went home to be with the Lord and her heavenly family on Sunday, November 19, 2017. She was born Inez Mae Rawlins on New Year's day in 1924. She grew up in Oakland, CA, with her mother, father, two sisters, and one brother. When she was just a little girl of five, she heard Jesus speak to her and from that time on, she walked with him in faith. We always joked she had a hot line to Jesus, and we would frequently call upon her for prayers, which she gave freely, joyfully, and often successfully on our behalf. Mom graduated from Oakland High School and was a coxswain on the rowing team while there. She had a near perfect attendance record from kindergarten through high school, which was broken only when she contracted pink eye (this infuriated her as she was so proud she had never missed a day of school until then). At 15, while working in a movie theater and already a great beauty, she was approached by a talent scout who wanted to put her in the movies. Her father would not allow it, knowing it could be a dangerous path for someone so innocent. At 18 years old, Mom met the love of her life, our father, Leonard Self, while scooping ice cream at Fenton's Creamery. It was love at first sight. With the approval of her own father, they eloped only three weeks later, before her new husband had to report for military service. They were together 51 years, until his death. Upon my father's discharge from service, they moved to Fife, WA, to farm the land. They had two boys, Leonard, Jr., and William "Bill". They eventually sold their farm as the I-5 freeway was to be built across their property, and moved back to California with their two growing boys. Eleven years later, they added to their family, first with Nancy and then Jason, as mom especially loved children and would have had a dozen if she could. During that time, Mom attended Diablo Valley College, often taking a baby with her to class, until it became too difficult to continue her goal to become a teacher and still maintain her responsibilities as a mother and homemaker. In her sunny California, she loved to water ski and did so at an expert level. It was fun, as kids, to watch her from the boat, shredding big rooster tails at high speeds. Our cool mom! In 1971, mom and dad moved their younger family back to Washington, where they settled in the Entiat Valley to become farmers once again. Mom worked tirelessly in the apple orchard next to our father, driving the tractor, jeep, working in the packing shed, and doing whatever was needed to make the business successful. She made hundreds, if not thousands, of apple pies for our dad, who seemed to have an addiction to them, and she'd lament how he would eat them or give them away to neighbors almost faster than she could produce them. She took jobs in Wenatchee, WA, to supplement the family income, often waiting tables, where she quickly earned the nickname "Bubbles", because of her bubbly personality and happy spirit. Everyone who met mom was struck by her beauty, her grace, and her amazing spirit. So many remember her great laugh, and how easily she could laugh at herself. Mom radiated joy and was as beautiful on the inside as she was on the outside. Mom loved her children and her grandchildren almost to a fault, giving and doing whatever she could to help them. As friendly as she was, she was also a spitfire who spoke her mind and would not back down when she felt she needed to stand up for herself or her loved ones. She was independent, outgoing, feisty, and fabulous. And even though she had suffered the loss of a son and had several close calls with death herself, she was tough as nails and stubbornly resilient. We joked she was the cat with nine lives who had used up 17 of them. Inez leaves behind two sons; a daughter; eight grandchildren; and six great- grandchildren: her son, Jason Self, his wife, Denise, their daughters: Heather and Holly Self; her son, Leonard, Jr., his wife, Kathy, their children: David Self and Carrie Self, and Carrie's children: Cody and Jonathan; her daughter, Nancy (Self) Snyder, and husband, Jim, and their son, Colin. From her second son, Bill, who preceded her in death, she leaves behind her grandchildren: McKinley Self; Trinity (Self) Berggren and husband, Michael, their children: Jaylin and Joshua; her grandson, Justin (Self) Elder, his wife, Katie, and their children: Lilly and Sammy Jane. She was also preceded in death by her husband, Leonard Self. We are grateful that our mother blessed us in life for as many years as she did. We know the heavens are full of her laughter now as she celebrates with her heavenly family, and that is a great comfort to those of us here who loved her. There will be a Celebration of her Life on Friday, December 8, 2017, at 3:00 p.m., in the Fireside room at Sage Hills Church, 1601 Fifth St., Wenatchee, WA. Arrangements are assisted by Chapel of the Valley in Wenatchee, WA. Donations can be made to the Humane Society of Wenatchee.

Inez Mae Self

January 1, 1924 - November 19, 2017