Lucille G. Cleaves

Lucille G. Cleaves passed away peacefully on November 14 at Skagit Valley Hospital following a brief illness. She was 87.

Lucille was born on May 16, 1923 to John and Elise Klock in Grandview, WA. She was the youngest of four children. She attended Grandview Schools and graduated Valedictorian from Grandview High School in 1941. Lucille completed her training to become a Registered Nurse at Virginia Mason Hospital in 1943.

Lucille met Vance H. Cleaves in Grandview, WA. They were married while he was serving in the Navy during WWII. After the War, they finally settled in Arlington, where they owned and operated the Shell Oil Company Distributorship.

Lucille loved and supported her family. While her children were young, she served as Sunday School Superintendent at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, was a Campfire Leader, Cub Scout Mother, and she also worked as the receptionist and bookkeeper for the family owned business. She enjoyed helping others. This was evident in her years volunteering to teach adults to speak, read, and write English with the Snohomish Literacy Council and the Yuma Reading Council. She was passionate about knitting sweaters, caps, and afghans for family members and friends. Later in life she knit newborn caps for the local hospitals and recruited many women to join in that mission. She volunteered to help with Hospice, called bingo, and formed rhythm bands for various nursing homes and local convalescent centers.

Lucille and Vance lived in Arlington for over 50 years. In 1976 they retired and spent 23 years in Yuma, AZ, traveling the Southwest as snowbirds. She was a member of Peace Lutheran Church and expressed many times how blessed she was.

Lucille will be greatly missed by her family and friends for her loving, caring spirit and cute sense of humor. We will especially miss her kisses goodbye and wave.

Lucille was preceded in death by Vance (husband), John and Elise Klock (parents), Margaret Klock Adkinson (sister), Lawrence Klock (brother), and Trygve Klock (brother).

Lucille is survived by her son, Gary and wife, Vivian; daughter Kristine Cleaves-Wollan and husband, Blaine; and daughter Lori and husband, Rick Hyatt. She has five grandchildren including Jennifer Cleaves Radford (Chuck), Dr. Gina Cleaves (Colin), Neil Cleaves, and Heath and Rhys Hyatt. She also has one great granddaughter, Mia Elise Radford.

At Lucille’s request, a private memorial service for immediate family members is being planned. Arrangements are being made through Hawthorne Funeral Home. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Peace Lutheran Church, Silvana, WA, or a charity of your choice.

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