Georgia Elaine Wilson, age 89, passed away on Friday, December 7, 2007 at the Burton Care Center in Burlington, Washington.
She was born to the pioneer family of Norman and Myrtle Duvall on May 24, 1918 in Hamilton, Washington. Her mother and father came out West from Arkansas in the late 1800’s part by wagon train and by railroad. They homesteaded the property that Georgia resided at for nearly the last 50 years. She was the next to the youngest of ten children. Georgia grew up in Hamilton and went to Hamilton Grade School and Sedro-Woolley High School. She quit school at the age of 16 to marry Ross Cook. He would walk 12 miles to her home, from Sedro-Woolley to Punkin Center just to court her. Their first home was a shack at Lake Cavanaugh living in a logging camp where he was employed and later moving back to Hamilton, where she had her only child Mike.
Georgia began working in taverns at an early age starting at Soren’s Tavern just before getting to Hamilton. That started her decade in the tavern business, beginning with the Skagit Tavern in Marblemount, the Log Cabin Tavern in Concrete, and back to Hamilton buying Soren’s Tavern. She married George Olels and changed the name of Soren’s Tavern to George and Georgia’s.
In 1950, Georgia married George Wilson. They sold the tavern and moved to Sedro-Woolley. When her father died in the mid 50’s, they moved back to Punkin Center to take care of her aging mother. Just being a stay at home housewife was not Georgia’s bag, so she got into the sales business, selling appliances door to door. She made her biggest sale when she sold to the Finn Settlement. They had no power; she said ‘if I could get you power would you buy from me’. How she did it we don’t know, but they got power and they kept their word. Later Georgia began a new career selling Avon products between Lyman and Birdsview for many years. Georgia and George also raised cattle on their farm and she lived there until failing health forced her to move. Her last residence was at Burtons Care Center in Burlington. Her family would like to thank Burtons for the excellent care that was given to her. She also had a special friend there, Steve thank you Steve. Georgia had many friends, she had a beautiful smile and a nice laugh. She was always telling funny jokes and trying to make people laugh and she laughed at her own jokes. Her home was always open to her friends and neighbors and her family thanks you all for her help and the good times. Georgia, mom, grandma, friend, you will be dearly missed by all. You are now in God’s hands and we know you are safe.
Georgia is survived by her son, Michael Cook and his companion Betsy Faber of Sedro-Woolley. A granddaughter, Teresa Cook-Letellier and her husband Randy of Punkin Center. 2 step-grandchildren, Robert London of Sedro-Woolley and Jackie Petitt of Bullhead City, AZ. 2 great-grandchildren, Ryan Letellier and his companion Emily Schaffer of Mount Vernon and Danielle Letellier and her companion Brandon Moore of Punkin Center. A brother, Harold Duvall and his wife Alice of Kennewick, WA; a brother-in-law, Ed Poor of Punkin Center, and a sister-in-law, Betty Davidson of Sedro-Woolley and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husbands, Ross Cook, George Olels and George Wilson and 8 brothers and sisters.
Graveside Services will be held on Saturday, December 15, 2007 at 2:00PM at the Hamilton Cemetery with a reception to follow at Georgia’s home. Visitation will be available Thursday and Friday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM at Lemley Chapel, Sedro-Woolley.