Lula “Chris” Leverett passed away at Cottage in the Meadow in Yakima, March 18, 2019. She was born in Yakima, July 14, 1932, to Ida and Ernest Stillings, the youngest of three children.
Chris spent the early years of her life in Tieton, Wash., where her parents had a small orchard on Naches Heights. At age 10, her father drowned in a boating accident and Lula moved with her mother to Yakima, where she attended McKinley Elementary, Franklin Junior High and graduated from Yakima High School, class of 1950.
Chris attended Washington State College for two years where she met her furture husband, James “Jim” Leverett. They were married in the chapel on the Main Post at Fort Benning, Ga., Oct. 4, 1952. After Jim returned from overseas service, they began their married life in Seattle, where their children were born, Gil Scott in 1955 and Carol Lynn in 1956.
From Seattle, they followed Jim’s banking career to Yakima, then to Ellensburg and finally to Chehalis, where they spent the last 29 years before retirement. They chose to return to Yakima for their retirement years.
Family activities in the early years were participating in the kids events and time spent at their beach property in Port Ludlow. During high school years, they had a sail boat on Puget Sound. In retirement, there was foreign travel, cruises and many family gatherings.
Chris was devoted to her family and friends. She was proud of her children and grandchildren and followed their accomplishments along the way. She was a true people person, a joiner and a belonger, who participated and contributed in some way to every organization she belonged to. Chris was a member of First Presbyterian Church (now Grace of Christ), PEO, Women’s Century Club and Newcomers and Friends.
She enjoyed an exercise class at Harmon Center and a reading group at the West Valley Library as well as activities in her condo community. Her days were active and full with seldom a blank day on her calendar. Chris leaves a legacy of a life well lived with a warm smile, a positive attitude, a loving family and many friends.
Chris was preceded in death by her parents; sister, Belle Bowers; brother, John Stillings; and son, Guilford Scott Leverett.
She is survived by her husband, James G. Leverett; daughter, Carol O’Brien (Pete); granddaughters, Kathleen Allensworth (Jordan), Patricia O’Brien and Molly O’Brien.
A memorial service will be held in Yakima, Wash., Saturday, April 27, 2019, at 11 a.m., at Grace of Christ Presbyterian Church. Arrangements are in the care of Keith & Keith Funeral Home.
