Eva Mae (Effie) Lamb

Eva Mae (Effie) Lamb was born to Cecil and Sylvia Johnson on June 17, 1925. Her life, here on earth, is an amazing saga. From a childhood of poverty, a broken home and separation from her siblings this preteen gained a positive work ethic, perseverance, persistence and achievement. She accepted Jesus as her Lord and Savior in a little church in Dixie, WA when she was twelve years old.

After their parents divorced, Les, Marge, Frank, Effie, Celia, Bud and Nancy found that finding a place to live, and funding the bare essentials became a major challenge. They learned to swap housekeeping, cooking, babysitting and other chores for board and room. The older boys were able to get outside jobs. When she was 12 or 13, she moved in with her older brother but stayed at the Lamb's during the day while her brother worked. Later she was moved with her siblings to many temporary homes and became accustomed to frequent change. She nailed down a job as a dishwasher at the Corp of Engineers where her mother worked as a cook. Pay rate wasn't much but she was able to work 14-hour days and eat with the laborers. At age 16 she went to work at the Walla Walla Cannery and saved money to buy a house.

During the war years, Effie maintained regular correspondence with soldiers and sailors in war torn parts of the world.

Knowing someone back home was praying for their safe return made all the difference. She restarted the letter writing during the Korean Conflict and again during the Vietnam War. Each letter included news from home, something encouraging and, frequently, a verse of scripture. One Vietnam era sailor told, how after reading one of Effie's letters, he was moved to accept Jesus Christ as his personal Lord and Savior (changing his life forever).

Toward the end of World War II, she married a handsome sailor, Russell Lamb. Together, they committed their lives to their God, their family, their friends, and to many in need of a helping hand. In 1952, they bought an Actor House in Dixie, along with 3 acres along Dry Creek. In 1956, they built their own home on the property and raised three children.

Russell and Effie loved camping, picking berries, fishing, and exploring the Northwest. They attended old-time fiddler gatherings, took art classes, tended their garden, played and worked at the cabin, and spoiled their grandkids.

Russell passed away at the turn of the millennium. In 2002, Effie moved to Odd Fellows Apartments in Walla Walla, where she continued sewing and quilting as long as she could, received visitors, dispensed coffee, reminisced, and offered advice freely.

When her Lord called her home, Effie left a son John and his wife Donna, a son Don and his wife Kathy, and a daughter Sandy and her husband Rick Tonn. Additionally, she leaves numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren. Many nieces and nephews. She is survived by her sister, Nancy Nerland.

Funeral service will be held on Friday, December 5, 2025, at 11:00 AM, at the Chapel of the Herring Funeral Home, followed by a private graveside.

Memorial contributions may be made to Bible Truth Publishers through the Herring Groseclose Funeral Home, 315 W Alder St, Walla Walla, WA 99362. Friends and family are invited to sign the online guestbook at www.herringgroseclose.com.