Lorraine Gerlitz

Lorraine J. Gerlitz, 95, of Endicott, Wash., passed away April 28, 2019, at Whitman Hospital and Medical Center in Colfax, Wash.

Lorraine was born Aug. 10, 1923, in Colfax to Ed and Almeda Stong. She grew up on the family farm outside of Endicott with her sister, Dorothy. Lorraine talked about riding horses to town to get the mail and going to the movie theater and picking out candy at the local grocery store as a child. Her favorite childhood memories were spending time with her grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins after church and the big family meals together. She especially remembered the crock pickles and Sauer Kraut while growing up.

Lorraine graduated from Endicott High School and went to Kinman Business School in Spokane. Following her graduation, she came back to Endicott to work at the Wheat Grower Grain office for a time and later the Endicott Bank. Lorraine and her friend decided to go to the big city of Kent, Wash., to work for a bank. However, she became tired of all the rain and moved back to Spokane where she worked in the banking industry for a time. She moved to Colfax and while working for Washington Water and Power began dating Floyd Gerlitz.

In November of 1947, Lorraine and Floyd were married. Together they made the family farm between Endicott and St. John their home where Lorraine helped with the farm and raised their two sons. After the boys were grown, she went to work as a secretary at the Endicott School for a number of years. Lorraine enjoyed working for the braille organizations transcribing books into braille.

Following Floyd's death in 1984, Lorraine moved off the farm to Colfax where she lived. She volunteered in the Colfax Schools and was active with the Colfax Library. Lorraine was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Endicott. She loved being around her family, listening about activities and helping out.

She was preceded in death by her husband and her sister, Dorothy Anderson. She is survived by her sons, Stephen (Karen) Gerlitz and Timothy (Denise) Gerlitz; four grandchildren, Ezra Gerlitz, Jessica Freeze, Michael Gerlitz and Gary Gerlitz and three great-grandchildren, MacKenzie, Noah and Austin.

Viewing will be held on Thursday from noon to 5 PM at Bruning Funeral Home in Colfax. A graveside service will be held at 11 AM on Friday, May 3, 2019, at the Endicott Cemetery. A reception will follow at Trinity Lutheran Church in Endicott. Bruning Funeral Home of Colfax, Wash., has been entrusted with arrangements. Online condolences may be sent to http://www.bruningfuneralhome.com.