Zora Bullock, 81, a longtime Skagit Valley resident, passed away on March 8, 2015. She and her twin sister Ora B. were born on April 18, 1933 in Rutledge, TN to Bertha and Joseph (McDaniel) Bellisle, joining 5 other siblings. She grew up in Tennessee and she talked about how hard it was growing up during the depression and how the family had to live in a tent. Her father worked for $1.00 a day.
She met and married John Smith in 1951 and they moved to Washington with her parents to be near her brother in the military. They moved back and forth several times but managed to have three children over the years, Kathryn, Joe and Mae. They divorced after 18 years. She later married Gerald Bullock and he passed away after eleven years of marriage. She then rekindled her relationship with John Smith and they remained together until his passing in 2012.
Zora worked as a nursing assistant for the Life Care Center’s in Mount Vernon and Sedro-Woolley for a total of 20 years. She also worked at the Skagit Station Restaurant and at the Josephine Sunset Home in Stanwood.
She enjoyed traveling very much: especially to Eastern Washington where she would sit and watch the birds and nature. She had a special talent when it came to gardening and loved fishing. When young she was particularly fond of dancing – mostly the “Tar Heel Stomp”. She enjoyed her children and grandchildren especially her time “playing” in Reno with her daughters. She truly enjoyed life.
Zora is survived by her children; Kathryn (Tony) Davis, Johnny Smith and Mae (Bob) Jurgena; grandchildren Amy, Kari, Wendy and Jonathan; four great-grandchildren; special nephew Harold; brother-in-law, James B. “Uncle Jr.” Collins and numerous nieces, nephews and friends. She was preceded in death by husbands Gerald Bullock and John Smith, Jr.; grandson, Matthew; siblings Mae, Tommy, Art, J.D., Ely and Ora B.
The family would like to extend a special thanks to Bob from Eden Home Care who went the extra mile during mom’s last days to make her comfortable and to all the wonderful people at Cross Creek Adult Family for giving so much love to our mother.
Funeral services for Zora will be held at Lemley Chapel in Sedro-Woolley on Saturday, March 14, 2015 at 3:00 PM with Pastor John Haas presiding. A time of visitation will held Friday, March 13 from 4:00 to 7:00 pm.
