Grace Maaike Andree, 94, passed away the morning of June 1, 2022, at her home, She survived by sons Chris (wife Maureen) and Willem (wife Ginalisa); daughters Audrey Birdwell and Margaret Blankenship; seven grandchildren Angie, Mary (John), Sammy Jo, Luke, Keith, Tena and Samantha; six great-grandchildren Tyler, Adam, Mandy, Charlie, Treye and Mason; one sister Jannie DeVries, Heerenveen, Friesland, The Netherlands.
She is preceded by her parents Willem and Atje Klijnsma, brother Gosse Klijnsma, and former husband Pete Andree.
Grace was born in the Netherlands on May 18, 1928. Grace finished eighth grade and went on to take trade classes. (During World War II, the educational system was disrupted.) She went to work in the family store in Herenveen. She enjoyed sailing, ice skating, and biking in her homeland. She married Pete Andree in 1953 in The Netherlands and immigrated in 1957 to California to work on a farm. In 1962, they moved to Puget Island for their own farm, 110 acres with approximately 80 head of cattle.
She assured her kids were good swimmers, and they participated in 4-H, had farm chores, and participated in church. She was a member of the Dairy Wives. She was a good baker and cook and taught her children and grandchildren. She enjoyed practical sewing. She played the organ and the violin. She loved plants, especially tulips. Her favorite TV shows were The Golden Girls, QVC, Bush People, I Love Lucy, and The Price is Right.
Grace’s hospitality was evident in her own store, Andree’s Koffhuis, for 18 years in the Centralia Outlets, as well as at home. Her favorite coffee was strong, such as Dutch coffee Douwe Egberts. Her own recipe of Lemon Buttercake, is made to this day by her family. Cookies she enjoyed were Speculaas and her friend Audrey Rademaker’s sugar cookies. She served coffee in the morning and tea in the afternoon.
She was very involved in the Christian Women’s Club. She was a member of the local mycological society. She enjoyed games such as Yahtzee and Rummicube. She liked Christian romance novels. One of her favorite activities was shopping, in which she usually included her daughters and grandchildren. She was very thrifty. She was recently featured twice in The Chronicle by Julie Zander.
A celebration of life will occur on Saturday, August 6, 2022, at 11 a.m. at Mountain View Baptist Church.
To view the obituary, please go to chronline.com/obituaries.
