Lorraine Winsor

Lorraine Jane Winsor long-time resident of Palmer/Kanaskat passed away at Tacoma General Hospital on December 5. She lived 90 years full of life’s struggles and joys. She was born December 30, 1926 in Ladysmith, British Columbia to Cecil and Olive Walker. She had many happy memories of growing up on adjoining property with her extended family. At the early age of three her father was killed in a logging accident leaving her young mother to raise her and her brother Donald. A few years later she was hit by a car breaking both of her legs. Staying in bed for a full year she proved doctors wrong and walked again. When she was 12 she moved to Palmer with her mother and brother. Bill Morris, a local miner, joined their family becoming her mother’s lifelong companion. She attended elementary school in Cumberland where she would run and hide when this older boy would drive up in his loud car. Lorraine graduated from Enumclaw High School in 1946 and continued to be a proud Enumclaw Tiger attending the “All Class Reunion” every year. Lorraine married Donald “Windy” Winsor, the boy she had hid from years earlier, on July 23, 1946 in Seattle. During the next two years, their daughter and son were born, and the family lived in Bayne. Lorraine helped build their new home in Kanasket where she lived for the next 54 years. She kept busy by cheering her husband and brother on as they raced stock cars and being an active Women of the Moose member achieving College of Regents. She loved listening to music and dancing at the Moose Hall or around the living room with Windy. After raising her family, she returned to work part-time working at the Ravensdale Market, the Palmer Post Office, and cooking at Eadie’s in Cumberland using her money to buy a new dining room set. Lorraine delighted in packing up their motorhome and heading to the Cowlitz River for Windy to fish, or Skagit Speedway to watch her nephew Cecil Walker race his sprint car. She spent many hours with her grandchildren and great grandchildren sharing her love of nature and hoping one of them would take up baking, but they found more joy in eating her cooking. Walks to the river, playing in the snow, picking berries, holiday cards in the mail, Mickey Mouse pancakes, turkey dinners, phone calls, baking blackberry pies, and Sunday morning breakfasts are a few of the treasured memories she gave them. She always enjoyed watching elk in the field, wild birds eating in her backyard, and flowers growing around her home. She was a maniac for a game of Fast Track or Pinochle. Dogs were her favorite pet throughout her life and recently her grandson’s labs brought her daily happiness. She enjoyed many tv hours watching Kasey Kahne race, and Seahawks and Mariners compete. She found pleasure in caring for her family, creating a welcoming home, and prided herself in being prepared to cook any recipe on a moment’s notice. Running into friends at Safeway, chowder lunches at Bremmeyer’s, receiving a letter or a phone call always brought a smile to her face. Throughout her life she carried pride in her Canadian heritage flying the Canadian along with the American flag in her backyard. Warmth from the burning woodstove, delicious desserts, and conversation were available anytime visitors stopped by. Lorraine will be remembered as a determined, strong-willed, energetic, friendly lady that made the most of her 90 years. Lorraine shared 67 years of marriage with Windy and she missed him terribly when he passed away 4 years ago. She was laid to rest beside him at Enumclaw Evergreen Memorial Park Lorraine is survived by son Don and daughter Donna Kovash and husband Butch, two grandchildren: Brad Kovash with daughter Shalesa, Janelle Emter and husband Mike with sons Daniel and Matthew, “Grandkids from Alaska” Darbi and Doss Daley, and Lori Walker with daughters Sunny Konop and Lissa Strecker and their families as well as special friends: Darlene, Laura, Janet, Connie, Ellen, Dorothy, Billy, John and Teresa.

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