Myrtle Anita Richardson, age 71, a resident of Hoquiam, died on Feb. 16, at her home in Hoquiam surrounded by family. Mrs. Richardson was born March 8, 1948, in Aberdeen Washington.
Mert graduated from Wishkah High School in 1966, then attended ITT Peterson School of Business in Seattle. She worked in Seattle and Coupeville prior to returning to the Harbor in 1988. Here, she worked as a secretary for Hoquiam Plywood, Channel Point, D & M Machine in Montesano and retired while with Dahlstrom Lumber.
Myrtle loved traveling to Las Vegas and Reno with her husband, David, and family vacations to Disneyland. She enjoyed relaxing at her tiny house out the west Satsop, gardening and tending to the chickens with her husband and grandsons. She also enjoyed knitting and making native crafts.
Family always came first with Mert, but she especially loved being a grandma.
She was a proud member of the Quinault Indian Nation, a life member of the VFW and was a member of the Hoquiam Elks and Eagles
Surviving relatives include husband David Richardson of the family home in Hoquiam, her mother Elizabeth Ditton, a son Gary Mitchell (Jennifer) of Montesano, a daughter Kathleen Mitchell of Spokane, stepdaughter Renee Richardson of Shelton, sisters; Shirley Ditton, and Betty Lathers, a brother Lee Ditton, and grandchildren; Colby Mitchell, Tyler Mitchell, Anthony Mitchell, Matthew Burns, Elijah Hernandez, Alexis Godfrey and Cooper Richardson, nieces and nephews; Tammie Rasmussen, Sara Lathers, Wade Stover and Terry Johnson.
Mert was preceded in death by her father, Homer Ditton; a sister, Kathleen Ditton Yonich, and a stepson, Tyler Richardson.
There will be a funeral mass celebrated at 1:30 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 28, 2020, at Our Lady of Good Help Catholic Church in Hoquiam.
Entombment will follow at the Bower Mausoleum at Sunset Memorial Park.
Arrangements are by the Coleman Mortuary of 422 5th Street in Hoquiam, Washington.
Please take a few moments to record your thoughts for the family by signing the online register at www.colemanmortuary.net.
