Lyla Elaine Wolcott

Lyla Elaine (Weeks) Wolcott born August 26, 1924 at Williston, North Dakota died December 13, 2020 in College Place, Washington.

“This Little Light of Mine I'm Going To Let It Shine”

Her history began in 1871 on a voyage to America by Samuel Ford Weeks who was born on May 21, 1844 in Loddiswell, Devon England.  Samuel Ford Weeks and Ellen Steer were married December 25, 1863 by R.P. Lidden at the Parish of South Milton England.  When Samuel and Ellen immigrated to the United States,  they had five children John William, Mary, Kate, Elisabeth, and Emma.

It had been said that on the voyage to America in 1871, Samuel made friends with some passengers who were of the Seventh-Day Adventist Faith.  These new friends planned to settle in Olmsted County Minnesota.  It is also true that Samuel had an aunt and uncle, Maria (Weeks) and Thomas Harris who had immigrated to the United States in the 1850's and were now living in Pleasant Grove Olmsted County Minnesota.  Whatever the reason after Ellen and their then born children joined Samuel in 1872, the family settled on a farm in Pleasant Grove.

John William, son of Samuel Ford Weeks and Ellen Steer, grew up and married Jessie Bell Mercer.  Jessie Bell and John Williams had nine children they raised in the Seventh- Day Adventist Faith. Their children's names were George, Frank Arthur, Walter, John, Lillian, Vivian, Helen, Rachel, and Evelyn.  Frank grew up to be Lyla's Dad and the other siblings are Lyla's aunts and uncles.  Frank grew up and married Anna Handly January 2, 1920.  Frank and Anna had 12 children Marie, Frances, Lyla, Lenore, Floyd, Lyle, Franklin, Annabell, Richard, John, Yvetta, and Gerald. Shortly after Frank and Anna got married, they moved to Williston, North Dakota.  Lyla was born on August 26, 1924 in Williston, North Dakota. Lyla enjoyed country living and lots of siblings to play the game kick the can.  Her siblings had lots of fun ice skating on ponds in the winter and making snowmen and having snowball fights and skiing down the surrounding hills on homemade skis.  Lyla grew up during the depression and times were hard but the love of family kept them all happy.

Lyla's Uncle John moved to Longview, Washington to work at the Longview Fiber Company.  Mom's mother Anna died on April 12, 1942 at Williston, North Dakota.  A few years later, Lyla moved to Longview to help her Uncle John.  When Lyla was living with her Uncle John, Chester Arthur Wolcott JR. came to deliver a refrigerator to her Uncle John.  Chester was quite smitten with Lyla and asked her for a date.  They continued dating and were married on July 1, 1947 on Chester's 19 ^th birthday.  Chester nicknamed Lyla (Sunshine).  Chester would always say Lyla is the best birthday present I ever got.  Chester worked for Longview Fiber and later Weyerhauser.  Lyla and Chester raised five daughters in the Kelso-Longview area: Carol, Kathy, Linda, Margie and Sandy.  Lyla was a beautiful homemaker that raised her children in the Seventh-Day Adventist faith.  She cooked, cleaned, ironed, vacuumed, and loved Jesus and her family with all her heart. She spread love and sunshine wherever she went.  She was a mother, grandmother, great grandmother and great great grandmother. They had 6 grand children, fifteen great grand children and one great great grandson.

In 1970, Linda moved to College Place to attend Walla Walla College.  When Margie graduated in 1972, she moved to College Place to also attend Walla Walla College.  Sister Kathy also came to College Place in 1972 to work as a nurse.  When Sandy graduated from Community College, she moved to College Place and worked at the Walla Walla General Hospital.  Then many years later when Carol's husband died in 2012, she came to join her 3 sisters and her Mom in College Place.

May 26 ^th , 2005 Lyla and Chester moved to College Place to be near their daughters and their families because of Chester's declining health.  They lived at Country Estates Senior Living Manufactured Home Park on Osprey Lane. They enjoyed being near their daughters and attending the Village Seventh-Day Adventist Church with them.  They had 4 fun years together in College Place before Chester passed away on November 14, 2009.

Mom remained on Osprey Lane spending many happy hours with her daughters and their families until March 11, 2014.  In March, she moved to Eagle Meadows, an assisted living facility on Whitman Drive in College Place.  She loved Eagle Meadows and lived there for over 6 years.  She enjoyed having visits from her children on all the special occasions and just the everyday occasions.  We feel very blessed to have a beautiful loving and kind Christian mother and we praise God for her.  We are sad that she has passed away but we rejoice in the hope of heaven and seeing her again when Jesus comes.  Eagle Meadows changed hands and is now called Brookdale of College Place.  We will be forever grateful of the many kind tender-hearted care givers she had during her days at this beautiful facility, a home away from home. One of the staff members nicknamed mom “Giggles” because she brought so much joy and laughter to everyone. Also we would like to give special thanks to our sister Kathy for her special loving care of our mother during the past years.  On Sabbath mom always watched Blue Mountain T.V. and was a blessing sharing Jesus's love with her caregivers.  Something we can all take away from Lyla's life is Brighten the corner wherever you are and let your little light shine.

Memorial Donations may be made to Blue Mountain Television, Village TV Ministries or Village SDA Church through Herring Groseclose Funeral Home 315 W. Alder St.  Walla Walla, WA 99362