Obituaries — Aug. 9, 2023

Mary Luella (Kotila) Lematta

Mary Luella (Kotila) Lematta, 97, passed away July 7, 2023, at Sherwood Assisted Living, Sequim, WA.

Mary (Luella) was born near Frederick, South Dakota on March 15, 1926, to Oscar and Helen (Swanson) Kotila, the third of four children. She graduated from Frederick High School in 1943.

After earning a teaching degree, she taught grades 1-8 in a one-room rural schoolhouse until her marriage to Enright A. Lematta on June 1, 1947. The couple lived in Minnesota, Oregon, Bermuda, and Washington state and were married for 37 years before Enright’s passing in 1984.

She was predeceased by her husband, her parents, and brothers LuVerne, Merlon, and Clayton. Mary is survived by her children Karen Westley – Sequim, Jerry Lematta – Sequim, Bob Lematta – Sequim, Steve (Jeanne) Lematta – Alaska/Arizona, and Debbie (Tom Jordan) Lematta – Seattle. She has four grown grandchildren, Kelsey (Charles) Apt – Germany, Craig (Ariana) Lematta – Alaska, Alex Lematta – Alaska, and Matthew Jordan – Olympia, WA.

Mary had a creative and lively personality. She was a talented seamstress and enjoyed oil painting, interior design, baking, and various arts and crafts. She loved to dance and was involved in ballroom and square dancing. Mary was fond of sharing stories about the Finnish immigrant experience on the family farm during the Great Depression, attending high school in Frederick during the war, and the dances and other events she attended at Savo Hall and surrounding communities. She made sure to keep in touch with family and friends and regularly attended family and school reunions in Frederick.

The family is using Peninsula Funeral Homes for arrangements. There will be no services at this time. Per Mary’s wishes, her ashes will be interred in the North Savo Apostolic Lutheran Cemetery, Frederick, Brown County, SD at a future date.

Viktor Heinrich Schimschal

Viktor Heinrich Schimschal of Port Angeles died of age-related causes on Aug. 1, 2023, at Olympic Medical Center. He was 89.

Schimschal was born Sept. 30, 1933.

A full obituary will run at a later date.

Sign an online guestbook for the family at drennanford.com.

Ronald Warren Meech

Ronald Warren Meech of Port Angeles died of pulmonary disease on July 27, 2023, at Sequim Health & Rehabilitation Center. He was 61.

Meech was born June 5, 1962.

There was no funeral at his request.

Sign an online guestbook for the family at drennanford.com.

Marie G. Miller

Marie G.Miller of Port Angeles died of age-related causes at Olympic Medical Center on July 26, 2023. She was 98.

Miller was born Aug. 14, 1924.

A full obituary will follow.

Sign an online guestbook for the family at drennanford.com.

Jodine Nadine James (Hawkins)

Jodine Nadine James (Hawkins), a Makah Tribe member, of Olympia (formerly of Neah Bay) died on July 18, 2023, at Providence St. Peter Hospital in Olympia. She was 55.

James was born Nov. 26, 1967. A full obituary will run at a later date. Sign an online guestbook for the family at drennanford.com.