Helen Joyce Lashway, age 77, died on May 1, 2013. She was born in Bellingham and grew up in Tacoma, Seattle, Oregon, and Bainbridge Island. Her greatest passion was animals--ALL animals--except slugs. Even then, I guess one could say she had a passion, but not the same passion she had for the rest on the animal kingdom.

An example of her relationship with animals is when she and I went for a walk through her woods on a beautiful day in early summer. I turned around and there were seven horses, a few cows, some dogs, ducks, chickens, and about two thousand cats following us. They had lined themselves up in order of height, and kept to that formation until we returned to the barnyard. It was a wonderful thing to experience and a memory that will always be with me. Helen's love for wildlife was also evident in her caring for and feeding raccoons, coyotes, birds and wild bunnies. The bears and deer didn't wait for permission to enjoy the fruit trees. However, she also cared about people, and was a champion of the underdog. Many persons experiencing difficult circumstances benefited from her generous heart, often unaware of the source. As is true of us all, Helen was not a perfect person and was known also for her feistiness and stubborn streak, and at times displayed her outspoken nature.

Helen was a person of many interests and abilities. The artistic talents she inherited from our mother and grandmother were amazing. Her collection of books and voracious reading covered a great variety of subjects, but she especially loved reading the Bible and Bible-based literature. Among her many interests and activities were being an avid gardener, membership in a photography club, The Puget Sound Mycological Society, and The Cherry Valley Riding Club. Her position as the police clerk for the Duvall Police Department was a job that she loved for fifteen years until illness forced her to retire.
Most treasured by Helen was her membership in Jehovahs Worldwide Organization as one of Jehovahs Witnesses having been baptized as such on January 30, 1993. Those of us that loved her rejoice in the promise of her returning healthy and joyous to a world "made new."


Helen is survived by her daughter Cathy Carlson, son-in-law Gene, and grandson Lucas, of Rainier, Oregon; her sister Donna Ashe and brother-in-law Greg, of Redmond, Washington; and nephew Graham Ashe and wife Jessica, of Seattle, Washington.