For all the people fortunate to have her in their lives, Nancy created a great void when she passed on Aug. 4 at the age of 83. She was born in Hoquiam on Oct. 30, 1935, to Theadore and Ruby (Dixon) Mattler. Nancy lived there for most of her life until she followed her youngest grandchildren upon retirement. She was the older sister to brothers Richard and Kenneth Mattler, whom, like her parents, preceeded her in death.
She had an adventurous youth that included camping, skating and traveling (as far as the family car would take them). Her favorite travels often included a beach and always included her family. The broadest smiles were present while describing family members when she was sharing her memories of her adventures. She would grin nearly as wide describing her epic tussles with her brothers as she did regaling in the calmer moments together. During her youth she took on many jobs, but was most fond of talking about her time working at Grays Harbor Community Hospital. She performed quite a diverse variety of tasks there, including helping with the books. She graduated from Hoquiam High School as the salutatorian for her class.
After high school, she went to Ellensburg to pursue a college degree at Central Washington University. She kept herself very busy there, holding down odd jobs and joining various activities on campus. The one extracurricular activity she was most likely to speak of was playing on the school’s varsity basketball team. Her playing ball would come up often when sports were the topic of discussion with her grandchildren. Those stories were as close to boasting about herself that she ever got, her true boasting was always reserved for friends and acquaintances about her family. Of all the distractions college life provided, it was the man she would marry that became the biggest: John Workman of Centralia.
Nancy and John would eventually settle back in Hoquiam, where she would raise two children and find long-term employment to help in that endeavor. Nancy worked at Ovalstrapping as a bookkeeper until retirement. She also honed her finest skill in those days, utilizing it until only illness prevented her: caregiver. Nancy was always providing for others from her parents to her grandchildren. She provided anything and everything from the material to the emotional, but always with love.
She is survived by the following family: The two boys she raised are Pat Workman of Tigard, Oregon, and Bryan Workman of Eatonville, Washington. Pat and his wife Jacquie gave her grandchildren Sarah, John and Michelle. Bryan and wife Linda gave her Kyle, Allie and Kymmee. She had two great-grandchildren by Kyle (Gourley) and his wife Heather in Andrew and Kylie. Her brother Richard gave her nieces Beth (Picardo) and Amy (Burr).
There will be a graveside service in Sunset Memorial Park at 10 a.m. Aug. 19. Services will be handled by Coleman Mortuary. The family will be having lunch afterward. All those who knew her are welcome for the service and luncheon. Nancy also loved her friends a great deal and always looked forward to school reunions. Her contact records are proving elusive, so please, if you have questions or stories to share, contact her son at Mr.Workman.Pat@gmail.com or Coleman Mortuary.
