Ann Elliott Boynton had her passport stamped for her next adventure on Feb. 25, 2018 after defying the cancer that took her life but failed to take her dignity or grace.
Ann was born Sept. 2, 1930 to E. Jackson Elliott and Winnie B. Elliott in Bellingham. While growing up on her parents’ farm north of Lynden, she developed an early love of the arts thanks, in part, to her father who showed Belgian draft horses up and down the West Coast and took the family on regular theatre outings. Ann attended Lynden High School, was named Miss Whatcom County in 1948 and was the second runner-up in that year’s Miss Washington pageant.
She met her future husband, James S. Boynton, when she was 15 on a blind date set up by good friends. She attended the University of Washington where she was a member of Delta Delta Delta sorority. She and James were married on her 21st birthday because, as Jim always said, he wanted his bride to be “able to sit on a bar stool next to me.” Three daughters soon followed and Jim and Ann moved into their dream home in Beaux Arts, Washington, in 1961 where they raised a succession of Old English Sheepdogs and entertained family, friends and neighborhood children.
Jim’s job at Boeing afforded them the opportunity to travel and Ann accompanied Jim whenever she was able. She traveled to all seven continents, enjoyed all cultures, developed lifelong friendships and amassed an impressive collection of native art from around the world. Upon Jim’s death in 1990, Ann continued to travel extensively and was active at St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Medina. She received her private pilot’s license when she was 63 and enjoyed crabbing on pontoon planes and spending time with her sister, Nancy, in Anchorage, Alaska, a place that provided solace and inspiration in her later years.
Ann is survived by her medical doctor sister, Nancy Elliott Sydnam, of Anchorage; three daughters, Nancy Franklin (Joe) of Manhattan Beach, California, Carol Stevens of Bellevue and Elise Searles (Larry) of Bellevue; four grandchildren, Katie, Kevin, James and Taylor; and four great-grandchildren, Aurora, Maci, Everly and Caroline.
A memorial service is planned for 2 p.m. Saturday, March 24, in St. Thomas Episcopal Church of Medina. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that remembrances be made to Evergreen Hospice, Washington Trails or the Humane Society.
