Lillian Beatrice Grush

Lillian Beatrice (Laurier) Grush passed peacefully at home on Tuesday, April 7, 2020, just 19 days before her 100th birthday. She was preceded in death by her husband of 60 years, Roy Eugene Grush, by all of her siblings, and by her son-in-law, Gregory Randolph Fox. Lillian will be laid to rest next to her husband at Evergreen Memorial Gardens, Vancouver, WA on Tuesday, April 14. Service attendance is restricted to next of kin due to COVID-19, but a memorial service will be held a future date and time. Lillian was born in Nekoma, ND, to Joseph Carmel Laurier and Mary Ann LaCourse on April 26, 1920. She was the ninth of 10 children. Lillian grew up on a farm near Grafton, ND, during the great depression and moved to San Francisco to live with her sisters during World War II. She married her husband, Roy, on June 15, 1946, in Libby, Montana, and they settled in Moscow, ID, while Roy finished his engineering degree. Lillian spent the early years of marriage as a homemaker and devoted mother to her three children. In 1970, she was proud to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Sacramento State University. After relocating to Washington state the following year, she earned a teaching certificate in elementary education. She taught first and second grades at Christ the King Catholic School and Parish in Richland, WA until her retirement in 1985. She truly loved the students in her care and her chosen profession. Over the course of their marriage, Lillian, Roy and their children lived in Pittsburg and Philadelphia, PA, Kansas City, MO, Sacramento, CA, and Richland, WA, following Roy's career. After retirement, Lillian and Roy moved to Vancouver, WA to be closer to their children and grandchildren. They thoroughly enjoyed life as residents of Fairway Village and later, the Bedford Senior Living Community, where Lillian enjoyed living independently until just prior to her death. Lillian and Roy made many friends wherever they lived and cherished those relationships. Lillian lived her life fully and energetically. She was loving, generous and wise. She was dedicated to the Catholic Church and was always very active in parish life. She loved any social occasion, dancing, traveling, playing cards or any game, shopping, cooking and baking, reading, gardening and camping. Lillian is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Allen E. and Anne Grush of Eugene, OR, Allen's son, Aaron J. Grush and Aaron's daughters, Erin and Karen Grush; by her daughter and son-in-law, Judy and Gregory Gorham of Vancouver, WA, Judy's daughter and son-in-law, Jennifer Fox-Williams and Tyler Williams, and Judy's step-children, Christopher and Hilary Gorham and Hilary's daughters, Jovie and Lundi; and by her daughter and son-in-law, Cynthia and Gene Meyer, and their daughters Lillie and Alyssa Meyer of Vancouver, WA. Lillian will be remembered by friends and family as a beautiful, loving, fun and inspiring soul. She was an amazing mother, grandmother and aunt. She was a bright spot on earth and will be greatly missed. Memorials may be made to a charity of the donor's choice.

Lillian Beatrice Grush

April 26, 1920 - April 7, 2020