Florita Richardson

  Florita Richardson, 95, passed away on Saturday, Feb. 27, 2016, at the Christian Health Care Center in Lynden. She was born on March 25, 1920, in Bernice, Oklahoma, to Hardy and Ruth Ballard Fleming.
  Florita grew up in Jay, Oklahoma. She graduated from Chilocco Indian Agricultural School near Ponca City, Oklahoma. After high school, she attended college at Bacone Junior College in Muskogee, Oklahoma, and Northeastern State College in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, where she received a degree in education. She later received a master’s of education degree from the University of Alaska, Anchorage.
  Florita began work as a school teacher in one-room schools in northeastern Oklahoma and Colorado. Later she moved to Alaska where she, along with her husband Monty, taught school in Homer and Seward. She retired from teaching in 1977 after teaching for a total of 30 years.
  Florita married Monty in 1947 in Langley, Oklahoma. They were happily married for 68 years.
  Florita was a member of Delta Kappa Gamma (women’s educational sorority), the National Education Association, Eastern Star, the Pioneers of Alaska, the Seward Emblem Club and the Seward Memorial United Methodist Church. She excelled in sewing, knitting, crocheting and tatting. After retiring from teaching, she and Monty ran a charter fishing business in Seward’s Resurrection Bay. She was Monty’s first mate as she untangled fishing lines, baited hooks, instructed people in the fishing techniques, netted fish, unhooked fish and did other nautical duties.
  Florita was preceded in death by her father and mother; all of her siblings; and an infant grandson.
  Florita is survived by her husband, Monty, of Lynden, son Philip (Vicki) of Lynden; daughter Catherine Hedman of Phoenix, Arizona; daughter Rebecca Thario of Lynden; grandchildren Aidan Richardson, Alex Sharrow, Britton Richardson, Bailey Richardson, Ben Sharrow, Blake Richardson, Olivia Thario, Emma Thario and Anna Thario; great-granddaughter Maryln Richardson and her mother Rebecca Edlin; sister-in-law Ahniwake Fleming; and numerous nieces, nephews other family members and friends in Alaska and the lower 48.
  Condolences can be mailed to Monty at Meadow Greens, 301 W. Homestead Blvd., Apt 310, Lynden, WA 98264.
  A memorial service will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations in her name may be sent to the Scholarship Fund, Seward Emblem Club, Box 1357, Seward, AK 99664.
  You are invited to share your condolences and memories in the online guestbook at www.gilliesfuneralhome.com.
  Arrangements are entrusted to Gillies Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Lynden.