On April 17th, 2023 , Colleen Gail Richards gained her angel wings and joined her family in heaven; we can hear her singing her favorite song, “Hallelujah”, she thought it was so beautiful.  Colleen was born to Arthur and Peal Evans in Sunnyside, California on February 23, 1936, she had two brothers, Norman Evans & Wayne Evans.  She married Eldon (Rich) Richards on April 4, 1958, and they were together until his death in 1983.

Colleen and her husband started their family in Oregon and then moved to a couple different logging camps in Alaska where Rich worked as a logger for several years.  They then moved to Petersburg, AK where they purchased and operated a taxi service for about 7 years.  In 1978, they made their way to the Sedro-Woolley area where they bought and operated the Hi-Lead tavern in Hamilton, WA.  After the death of her husband, Colleen moved back to her favorite state of Alaska, she also spent time in Arkansas before settling in Sedro-Woolley for the last 7 years.  In addition to working in the service industry, she spent time assisting in nursing homes, a place where she was able to help, she had great compassion for others in need.  Some of Colleen’s favorite hobbies throughout her 87 years, included gardening; she loved flowers and some of her favorites were Tulips, Peonies, Hydrangeas, Sweet Peas, and so many more.  She also enjoyed cooking, canning, sewing, crocheting & knitting, along with attending school Christmas programs, baseball, softball, & soccer games.  It gave her great joy to watch her grandchildren & great grandchildren in action when she was able to.  Our mama was a warrior; she was sweet, sassy and witty.  She had a great sense of humor, she was stubborn, incredibly strong and determined, she endured more than most people could bear, but she never complained.

She leaves behind her younger brother, Norman; four children, son, Dean Evans and his wife, Marcy who reside in Oregon; daughters, Rhonda Beck, Launa Fry and Laura Lewis from Washington; 10 grandchildren; 17 great grandchildren, whom she loved tremendously, and cherished every moment she was able to spend with each one.

She never failed to send Birthday or Christmas cards to let them know she was thinking of them (even though some arrived at the wrong location at times over the past few years) – but hey, they got there eventually with a little help, LOL!

She was preceded in death by her parents, as well as her brother, Wayne.

We will miss you deeply, but we know you are now with God and his angels, along with your beloved family, so we know you will never be alone.

Until we see you again….