Our beloved mother Ola Gara died peacefully at the age of 77 the morning of October 23, 2012, after a valiant battle with cancer.
Ola was born January 12, 1935, in Burr, Texas, to parents Exie (Mayhall) and Cyrus Alexander. Ola was the youngest of four and is survived by her loving sister Bettie Mikeska Bethke. Ola grew up in Boling, Texas, and graduated from Boling High School, where she excelled in her studies and lettered in basketball, tennis and marching band as a head twirler. It was in Texas she acquired the personal characteristics that all admired... her warm hospitality... loving spirit... open and accepting heart... love of animals... nonjudgmental views.... all accompanied by the use and skill of proper manners.
Ola attended Durham's Business College Houston in the early 1950s to sharpen her secretarial skills. Upon completion, she was immediately employed by Texas Gulf Sulfur Co. as an assistant to the president. While in Texas, she married her first husband, Robert Gara, and had two daughters Jennifer and Katheryn.
After moving to Seattle via New York in 1967, she earned her BA degree in business from the University of Washington.
Ola enjoyed many years employed in the science and research development field, beginning with the small startup company Mathematical Sciences in Bellevue. She moved to the University of Washington's Electrical Engineering Department and worked many years with the Chairman of the Board. In addition to working, Ola tirelessly volunteered at the Snohomish County Battered Women's Shelter.
Ola loved to work and tenaciously kept working until her last days in what she described as "the best job for the best boss" she ever had. This job was at Jeff's Auto Repair, and she worked for her much-loved son-in-law Jeff.
Ola's passions included gardening, needlework, ceramics, square dancing, reading, and fierce games of Scrabble. Ola especially loved animals and would name every creature she could coax to feed at her back door. Raccoons, stray cats, squirrels, and even a lonely possum-- were all welcome at Mom's.
Ola is survived by her daughters and their husbands Jennifer (Jeff) Gietzen and Katheryn (Jeff) Morton; and grandchildren Alex (Patricia) Bayley, Kyle Bayley and Claudia Gietzen; her sister Bettie Bethke and five nieces and nephews. She is also survived by her "sweetheart" Francis Mithoug and many great friends.