Verna Clare DeForrest died on Saturday June 11, 2022 in Bellingham, WA.  She was born to Henrietta Rose Wittman and Vernon Clarence Pierce on October 6, 1932 at the family home at 41st and L Ave, Anacortes, WA.  After graduating from Anacortes High School in 1950 Verna went to work for the Department of the Navy at Whidbey Island Naval Air Station as a secretary/stenographer.  She enjoyed her work and her life on base sharing a small apartment with other secretaries. She was a particularly good secretary and was getting high security clearance for a job she was recommended for when she met Earl and her life path took a sudden turn. One of the commanders of the Naval Air Station called Earl to his office where, as the story goes, Verna was so nervous that she hid behind a file cabinet, trying to get a good look at Earl before meeting him. Verna and Earl Albert DeForrest were married soon after, on June 30, 1956 at St. Mary's Church in Anacortes, WA.

Earl joined the Oregon State Patrol and was stationed in Oregon. Verna and Earl resided in Oregon for the next 12 years where daughters Earlene and Cynthia were born. Those years were difficult for Verna because it was the first time she was away from her clan.  She worked for the Bureau of Mines and later for the U.S. Forest Service in Portland, Oregon. In 1968 they returned to Anacortes where sons Mark Edward and Matthew Earl were born. Among many hardships that year, the loss of her father, uncle and cousins in a boating accident. In addition, Verna lost one of her newborns, Matthew Earl one day after his birth. It was with gratitude his twin brother survived, Mark Edward. The happiest years of Verna's life were spent in Anacortes where she could spend more time with her family and friends. She also loved the frequent visits from relatives coming from North Dakota, and California. She worked in Anacortes during those years at OK Tires, and St Mary Catholic Church. Verna enjoyed the great outdoors, farming with Earl, raising their children, dinner at 5pm promptly (Earl was a military man), church on Sundays, and plenty of play in between. She especially loved nurturing a garden and listening to music, Pavarotti and Bocelli were two of her favorites. As a young woman she sang professionally for funerals and weddings and special occasions. Picnics with her large extended family were a high point of the Anacortes years as well as throwing a crab pot into the local waters. She loved to dig clams and fry them for dinner. She was generous of spirit with all, loved babies most of all! She was a person to whom place was important. She was imbued with the spirit of her birthplace where the sea meets the land, where family was everything, and where you could grow your own food, harvest from the ocean and have friends in for supper. Her clan was always nearby, mother, father, siblings - Colleen and Jim, and many cousins, aunts and uncles. Where extended family picnics at Rosario, Sunset, and North Beach, were a common thing, and Democrat Parties where the barbequed salmon was legendary! Where old timers would gather around a picnic table often under the Deception Pass bridge, spread newspaper and crack freshly boiled crab and shrimp! Verna was a 'put down roots' type person. She always lived in Anacortes, even when her final years were spent in Bellingham, she would harken back to Anacortes, the place of her memories, of few remaining friends and relatives, and where shopping for meat at the local Safeway was something, she never tired of. Even when her daughter would protest "How you going to cook THAT?"  She would counter by purchasing a roasting pan to go with the beef, even though she had no oven. She lived her faith quietly and with devotion. She gave generously to all, both of her heart and her pocketbook. She never gave up on people.  Including the homeless. When asked "why do you give money to people on the street?" her answer was succinct. "It is not my place to judge."

Verna was preceded in death by her husband, Earl Albert DeForrest, her children, Matthew Earl, Mark Edward and daughter, Cynthia Alexander. She is survived by her daughter Earlene (DeForrest) Kent and her daughter's husband Jim Kent, grandchildren, Matthew Kent, Katy Alexander, Emma, Art and Finn Lochwood, Ian Alexander, and Mark's widow, Adelle DeForrest. Her hilarious and loving great grandson Finn was the light of her light. She is survived by numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.  We would like to acknowledge Jan and Jon Murphy, Tom and Deborah Woods, Greg Haynes, Karen Kline, their son Peter Haynes (rest in peace) who was a joy to mom, Ruthanne Pocock and friends, the Dragovich family, Mary, Kathryn Cherry, Michael Dragovich and Mike, Lynn Dragovich (rest in peace) and Priscilla, David and Robin DeWolf for their steadfast love for mom.  We would also like to thank the staff at Summit Assisted Living Place in Bellingham Washington for their comfort and care these last four years of mom's life, and for allowing mom to 'live her adventure' and her life as she was in her own words "not going to die with a remote control in my hands."  Thank you also to her treasured friends at Summit who made her days more joyous with laugher, jam and cracker feasts in her room. Verna will be laid to rest in Anacortes alongside her husband, Earl Albert, and near her parents, and twin boys, at Fern Hill.

In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to Catholic Family Services or a charity of your choice.

To share memories of Verna, please sign the online guestbook at www.evanschapel.com/obituary/verna-deforr est