Mildred (Sue) Louise Ainsworth, age 87, a longtime resident of Central Park, died on June 7, 2018, at Regency of Olympia Rehabilitation Center. She was born on Jan. 1, 1931, at the Hoquiam General Hospital to Marion and Milka (Odvitovich) Rancich, Croatian immigrants. She spent her childhood in Hoquiam, attended Lincoln Grade School, Hoquiam Junior High and graduated from Hoquiam High School in 1949.
On Jan. 1, 1950, she and Richard (Rich) L. Ainsworth were married at our Lady of Good Help Church in Hoquiam. They were married for 58 years and resided in Central Park. She worked as a bookkeeper at Ice Place, Gambles Western Auto Supply, McGraws TV & Appliance, spent most of her career at Seattle First National Bank and retired as a para educator at Central Park Grade School on June 1, 1994.
Her love for traveling with her husband, family and friends, took them to wonderful places around Europe. They visited Rome, Paris, England and spent time with relatives in Croatia that they meet for the first time. They shared that wonderful experience with her brother Michael and sister-in-law Shirley in 1976 and talked about it often. They enjoyed wintering for several years in Yuma, Ariz. with close friends.
Sue was an active member of the Central Park Lionettes, PTA, Blue Birds, 4-H, Advisor X Ch Chapter Beta Sigma Phi. She loved her dog Miss Muffin. She enjoyed doing word search puzzles, watching the Mariners, Seahawks and Animal Planet. She knitted, crocheted countless afghans, baby sweater sets and scarves for all of her children, friends and extended family. It was just one of her expressions of creativity. She also loved planting her garden and tending to her flowers. Most of all our mother loved her adventures razor clam digging, hunting and fishing with our father and the many motor home trips they took in the U.S. Canada, Mexico, New York and Indiana. She also enjoyed her trip to Hawaii with dear friends.
Sue had one sister, Anna Cunningham of Portland, Ore.; a brother, Michael Rancich of Seattle; three daughters, Pamela Stager, Kathleen Coston and Andrea Jackson; grandchildren, Brad Shay, Shelley Thompson, Janell Gibson, Candice Jackson, Curtis Stager and Zachary Jackson and five great-grandchildren; Sophie and Conner Shay, Evan and Emma Gibson, and Kenny Stager.
A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, June 26, 2018, at the Coleman Mortuary Chapel in Hoquiam. Interment will be at Hoquiam’s Sunset Memorial Park, next to her husband Richard.
The family suggests that memorial contributions be made to Harbor Home Health & Hospice, 201-7th St. Hoquiam, WA, 98550 or Assured Hospice, 2102 Carriage Drive SW, Suite H Olympia WA, 98502.
Arrangements are entrusted to Coleman Mortuary 422 5th St. Hoquiam, Wash.
Please take a few moments to record your thoughts for the family by signing the on-line register at www.colemanmortuary.net.
