Etta Marie Fox, 89, a longtime Sedro-Woolley resident, passed away on Tuesday, December 27, 2011 at the Skagit Valley Hospital in Mount Vernon surrounded by her loving family.
She was born on August 19, 1922 in Sylva, North Carolina, the second of ten children of William Bryant & Lou Ellen (Young) Browning. She was raised and attended school in Sylva.
As a teenager she and her sister Martha later moved to Danville, Virginia where they worked in the Dan River Textile mill.
On January 22, 1944 Etta was united in marriage to Elisha Fox in Clayton, Georgia. While Elisha was off serving his country during WW II, Etta worked as a riveter on B-29 bombers for the Bell Aircraft Co. in Marietta, Georgia, and Etta is featured in the 2012 Washington Women in Trades Rosie the Riveter Calendar.
After WW II ended Etta and Elisha made their home in Gastonia, North Carolina until moving to the Northwest, settling in Sedro-Woolley in March of 1948.
Etta worked seasonally in the agriculture industry, working for the Nagatani Brothers and the canneries for several years and also provided home housekeeping for several families in the Sedro-Woolley area for many many years.
She was a charter member of the Clear Lake First Baptist Church where she has served faithfully for 60 years.
Etta enjoyed a variety of leisure activities, which included gardening, in which she raised a variety of flowers and vegetables; canning and cooking; sewing and quilting and attending as many garage sales as she could, always looking for that one great treasure. But most of all Etta enjoyed her family and her friends. She was always giving, be it fruit & vegetables from the garden, or quilt that she had made or a card for a special occasion, she always thought of others.
She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Elaine & Mark Gerspacher of Mukilteo and her granddaughters, Laura & Sarah Gerspacher. Four brothers, Carl Browning of Clear Lake, Claude Browning (Joann) of Mount Vernon, Floyd Browning (June) of Sedro-Woolley and Harold Browning of Seattle; two sisters, Elva Rankin of New Hudson, Michigan and Jeannette Fowler of Mount Vernon and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Elisha and three sisters, Lillie Browning, Nellie Browning and Martha Fox.
The family suggests that memorials be made to the Clear Lake First Baptist Church or a charity of your choice in memory of Etta.
A Graveside Service will be held at the Greenhills Memorial Cemetery in Burlington on Saturday, December 31, 2011 at 10:30 AM with a Life Celebration service to be held at the Clear Lake First Baptist Church at 12 noon. Services are under the direction of and visitation available at Lemley Chapel, Sedro-Woolley.
Elaine, Mark, Laura and Sarah,
I just wanted you to know that our prayers and thoughts are with you. Although I did not know your mom personally, it was as though I did through sharing stories, thoughts and concerns about our moms. It is never easy losing a loved one, but especially hard during the holiday season. May you find comfort in knowing that she is with the Lord and free from pain and struggle. May she rest in peace.
I will truly miss Aunt Etta’s outgoing spirit and lack of fear for life’s tribulations. I will remember her love of gardening and family. Our monthly phone talks will be greatly missed and I will hold her in my heart forever.
I send my prayers and love to Elaine and family and to her brothers and sisters.
Dear Elaine and Family i am so sorry for the loss of Aunt Etta i liked meeting you at the Wedding. we Love You Guys . I love the Quilt She Made for me and will keep it forever. Love Devin.
Aunt Etta was a true Southern Belle. She had a heart of gold, and was proud of her North Carolina roots. I remember visiting Washington in 1968, when I was ten years old. Etta wanted to take us strawberry picking
and we all had on these floppy straw hats. She was a great storyteller, and she, my mom and Aunt Martha talked nonstop up and down those rows all morning. I left the fields that day with a sunburn, sore knees and back, mosquitoe bites the size of quarters, and a tummy ache from too many berries!! I hope there are beautiful strawberry fields in heaven.
Aunt Etta, your Michigan family loves you, and will miss you greatly.
Love, Deborah
I wanted to share this poem with you that I wrote-
I HAVE WALKED OUT OF THE DARKNESS INTO THE BLESSED LIGHT-
MY SUFFERING IS OVER, NO LONGER MUST I FIGHT.
FIND COMFORT IN MY PEACE; I WILL NEVER WALK ALONE-
SURROUNDED BY MY LOVED ONES; I REST IN HEAVEN’S HOME.
BUILD YOUR LIVES THROUGH GOD’S WORD; LET FAITH BE YOUR GUIDE-
ALWAYS KNOW THAT I AM WITH YOU, FOREVER BY YOUR SIDE.
I WILL LIVE ON IN YOUR HEART; DO NOT WEEP OR MOURN FOR ME-
FOR ON THE WINGS OF ANGELS; I WILL SOAR, MY SPIRIT FREE.
Dear Elaine, Mark, Laura and Sarah…
It’s been tough for me to know exactly where to begin, as Miss Etta has always been special to my family and me, and her passing has left a pretty big hole in our hearts.
When we first started serving at the church in Clear Lake, she often invited us to her house on Sunday afternoons, giving us a warm and comfortable place to stay until the evening service started, so we didn’t have to go back to Oak Harbor (where we lived at the time) in between services. Even when we moved over to this area, she still invited us over to her home for meals — they were always delicious! She showered love on my family and was like a Grandma to all of us, from the very start. We will miss her hugs, the phone conversations, and the visits with her.
As her pastor for the last 12 years, I have been amazed at how she always had such a heart for others whom she knew were suffering, no matter what she herself was struggling with. And she loved the Lord with all her heart — He defined everything she did and who she was as a person. She was loving, caring, generous, a great host, and a true joy to be around — reflecting her relationship with Jesus in every way.
Your mom and grandma…the person I will always (and fondly) call Miss Etta…was an incredible woman. My family loved her dearly…I loved her very much. We will miss her deeply.
With love to all of you,
–Pastor John
I will always cherish and pass along to my daughter Autumn the beautiful quilts Aunt Etta has made for me. She will be remembered as a kind and loving aunt. My fondest thoughts of her are when I was a child and she would bake cakes for us, or be outside doing her flower garden in North Carolina. I wish I could have visited her more often, but I will never forget how hospitable she was to me and my sister Cindy when we went to Washington in 1980. We stayed with her and she always made sure we had someone to show us around and some sightseeing (Mt St Helen had just erupted). She was beyond special and heaven has received a special soul. I love you aunt Etta and will miss you tremendously. By golly!!!
Elaine and family,
Elaine, I especially wish I could be there for you during this hard time of sorrow. Unfortunately the miles keep us apart but in spirit I am there with you. I pray God will wrap his arms of Love and Comfort around you right now. I prayer he wipes away your tears. You are blessed to have had such a devoted and loving Mother. Your bound was strong. Just know she is laughing , dancing and basking in the presence of God RIGHT NOW!!!! and one day we will join her. Oh death where is thy sting, Oh grave where is thy victory? It is nowhere to be found with Etta Fox because of her faith in the Lord. God will get you thru this. Remember her in ther garden and now she is in her heavenly garden (bossing people around, HA HA HA) She was a special lady and will truly be missed. Call if you need to talk or cry. I am only a phone call away. Don’t try to do this alone. Please find comfort in these scriptures . I love you. Cindy
You are in my prayers.
The LORD Is My Shepherd
A Psalm of David.
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:
he leadeth me beside the still waters. Rev. 7.17
He restoreth my soul:
he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil: for thou art with me;
thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies:
thou anointest my head with oil;
my cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life:
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.
Psalm 91
He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.
John11 25-26
Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?
Psalm 126:5
They who sow in tears shall reap in joy and singing
Ecclesiastes 3
A Time for Everything
To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;
A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance
She will always be known as Mrs. Fox to me. I got to know Mrs, Fox as a child, teenager and an adult. In all those years, she was the most thoughtful person I had ever known .Whenever I saw her in town or at her house, she was always concern, helpful and kind.. I know she is in a better place and is looking down at all of us
My condolences go out to you Elaine, Mark, Laura, and Sarah. She was a wonderful Lady.
I knew Etta for but a brief time though our good friend Terri Browning, her neice. During this past year I learned of what a special lady Etta was. I truely enjoyed our visits. Our heart felt condolences go out to her family. She is now in the arms of pur savior. Rest in peace Etta.