Florence B. Lockrem passed away on the night of Aug. 7 at 11:20 p.m. She slipped peacefully into the next world with her eldest son by her side. Florence was born on Jan. 24, 1935, in the town of Sioux Lookout, Ontario, Canada. Her early life was harsh and demanded that she grow up quickly in order to help care for her brothers and sisters.

In 1953 at the age of 18, she began working as a switchboard operator in her hometown. A short time later, she met a handsome young Airman at a fire. They were married two weeks later and would remain so until he passed in 2013.

After living briefly in Minnesota and North Dakota, she and her husband settled in Seattle, Washington. There they would raise their four children. In 1981, they purchased five acres in La Conner, built their home and settled into middle age.

Florence continued to work as a telephone operator until that occupation was phased out in the 1990s. She would go to work for well over another decade at the local grocery store, Pioneer Market. Florence enjoyed working and took pride in what she did. She knitted, read and loved to gossip in her spare time. She did her best to care for her family from early to old age. She will be sorely missed.

Florence was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Richard Lockrem, and her son, James. Her children survive her: Richard, Kathy and Gary; her daughter-in-law: Carol and her sister, Beverly Gordon; 12 grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren.

A Funeral Service for Florence will be held at 1 pm Friday, Aug. 18, at Evans Funeral Chapel and she will be laid to rest at Fernhill Cemetery.

To share memories of Florence, please sign the online guest register at http://www.evanschapel.com/obituary/florence-lockrem.