Hazeldean Eva Alice Riffe

Hazeldean Eva Alice Riffe, a long-time resident of Rainey Valley, passed away with her daughters at her side on Friday, November 25, 2016, at Capital Medical Center, Olympia, WA. Several days after successful stomach surgery, she contracted a Staph infection from which she never recovered. Hazeldean was born on January 2, 1928, in Sumas, WA, to Elonzo and Jennett Rollins. The youngest of 7 girls, as a teenager she moved with her family to Glenoma where she met and married Glenn B. Riffe. They had three children, Tony Alonzo Riffe, Terri Dean Riffe, and Jerri Carlene Blankenship. Daughter Terri lives in Tucson, AZ; Jerri (David) lives in Glenoma. Son, Tony (Jill), died of cancer in June, 1967. Hazeldean was also preceded in death by her husband, Glenn, in August, 19, 2014. With her family, Hazeldean enjoyed all aspects of the outdoors including clam digging, fishing, camping, gardening, and watching birds in her yard. She worked for many years in a veneer mill in Randle. Once retired, she and Glenn enjoyed trips to Tucson in the Spring and also traveled with their daughters to New Orleans and Hawaii. Throughout her life, she enjoyed going to sporting events to watch her son, then grandsons, granddaughter, and great grandsons compete in various sports. Hazeldean was an outstanding resource of information about Rainey Valley for friends and family and was known for her remarkable memory. Hazeldean has three grandchildren, Randi Lydum (Matt) of Monmouth, OR; Tony Blankenship (Elizabeth) of Soap Lake, WA; Todd Blankenship (Jody) of Roseburg, OR, and five great grandchildren--Max Lydum, Gunnar Blankenship, Caden Blankenship, Hazel Rose Lydum, and Tanner Blankenship. The family would like to thank all friends who called, visited and texted frequently with fervent thoughts, prayers, and good wishes for our Mom. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. at the Church at Glenoma on Saturday, December 3, 2016. Burial will precede the memorial service at 10 a.m. at Rainey Valley Cemetery. All are welcome at both services. A potluck lunch will be provided after the memorial service

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