| Notes |
- Seattle Times
November 12, 2017
Lillian Griffin DePartee-Shallow July 30, 1924, New Haven, CT November 1, 2017, Seattle, WA
Lillian passed away peacefully, surrounded by family, at the age of 93 at Mirabella in Seattle. A devoted and politically active citizen of the Pacific NW, she grew up on Capitol Hill, graduating early from Garfield HS in 1941, then to the Helen Bush School and Vassar College.
During WWII, in July 1944, Lillian married James A. DePartee and began working for the Boeing Airplane Company. After the war, Lil joined her husband in Vienna, Austria, and the two worked in the occupation forces helping process "war brides" on their way to the U.S. In the early 1950's, Jim and Lil returned to Seattle to begin an architectural specialties business, and built a home in Medina. Her family (now with three kids) spent many years as members of the Seattle Ski Club, meeting lifelong friends along the way. Lil also volunteered ushering at Seattle performance theaters, loved visiting the Oregon Coast and spending time with her family. Lil became politically active in Central Area schools and Civil Rights affairs, and in 1969 earned her Master's Degree in Social Work from the Univ. of Washington. She worked as a Counselor for many years with two others in a private practice.
In 1990, after 16 years solo, Lil married her 2nd husband, Donald, a widower, and moved to his home in Montecito (Santa Barbara), CA. During those years, Lil and Don traveled extensively. They enjoyed many Dixieland Jazz Festivals, the Seattle International Film Festival and several world cruises.
After Donald's death in 2008, Lil returned to her condo in Seattle. She enjoyed working out regularly on her treadmill into her 90's. Her recent goal in life was to reduce challenges and to make the transition to whatever lay ahead a smooth one.
She is survived by sons David DePartee (Tracey) of Redmond, Richard DePartee of Seattle, and daughter Diane Grace Crutcher (John) of Olympia, also grandchildren Morgana, Max, Kyle & Brian DePartee and Tiffani Lee. She is also survived by her Southern California family Suzen Smallwood, Patricia Stensby, Barbara Faruki, and Jim Shallow, as well as several grand-children and four great grand-children. Lil also leaves behind her beloved sister-in-law, Margie Griffin from Mercer Island, as well as former daughter-in-law Lisa Yeakel of Seattle.
Lil was pre-deceased by her parents Dr. Eldon Griffin and Helen LaMonte Ely Griffin of Seattle. Also by her brothers Bill Griffin of Seattle, Bert Griffin of Phoenix, and Laurie Griffin of Mercer Island.
She leaves this world with a great and profound appreciation for the love we've all shared during her lifetime.
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1924 - 2017 (93 years)
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