Bernita McNabb died peacefully with her family by her side on Sept. 16, 2014, at Grace Alzheimer’s Center in Bellevue.
Bernita McNabb
Bernita was born in Seattle, on May 12, 1927, to Ruth Marion (Costello) and Ronald Everett McWain. She spent her childhood in the Leschi neighborhood of Seattle and later moved to Queen Anne. After graduating from Queen Anne High School in 1944, she went on to attend the University of Washington, majoring in journalism. Prior to becoming a mother and homemaker, Bernita worked at the Post Intelligencer newspaper.
Although Bernita grew up in Seattle, she had early ties to Issaquah through her grandmother, Annie Costello. Bernita spent summers and holidays with her grandmother at her summer cottage on the east side of Lake Sammamish. She spent many happy hours swimming, picking blackberries, canoeing, drawing and visiting with her grandmother’s many guests at “Camp Lake Sammamish.”
Bernita met her husband, James L. McNabb Jr., “Scotty”, at Lake Sammamish when he visited the camp during the summer of 1945 while his ship was docked at Bremerton during World War II. When his enlistment ended, Bernita and Scotty were married on Oct. 21, 1948.
They made their home in the Issaquah area, residing first on the shores of Lake Sammamish, and then on Squak Mountain and finally at a restored fish farm on the Raging River in Preston. Together, they raised three children, James Kirk McNabb (Patricia), Annette McNabb (Bill) and Gil McNabb (Paula).
Her husband Scotty preceded Bernita in death on April 25, 1996.
She is survived by her three children; four grandchildren (Jamie Meyers Anderson, Andrew Meyers, Hayden McNabb and Ian McNabb); two great-grandchildren (Carmen and Lena Anderson); a sister (Shirley Turner); and two nieces (Christina Sol and Hannah Rothlin).
Bernita was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother. She added joy to the lives of her family and friends, and will be greatly missed.
A private family service will be held. Interment will be at Tahoma National Cemetery, Maple Valley, King County, Washington.
Friends are invited to view photos and share memories in the family’s online guest book at www.flintofts.com.
Arrangements are entrusted to Flintoft’s Funeral Home and Crematory.