Ronni Vesta Fredrick, 99, a resident of Sedro-Woolley, passed away at her home on Sunday, February 8, 2009 surrounded by her loving family.
She was born with the name Ivory Vesta Powell on January 22, 1910 in Evansville, Indiana, the daughter of William & Willamina Hawkins Powell.
She attended a little one room school house in Franklin County, Indiana called Frog Pond and she completed and graduated from the eighth grade in Chicago, Illinois.
In the late 1920’s she was a singer and a Ronald Coleman impersonator at a night club operated by Al Capone, and it was then she decided to legally change her name to Ronni.
In the late 1930’s she left Chicago in search of a better paying job and a warmer climate, settling in Downey, California where she made home for 64 years until moving to Sedro-Woolley in 2002 to reside with her son and daughter-in-law, Ron & Jeri McCoy.
Ronni was a devout Christian, baptized in the Four Square Ministries in 1983. She was a patriot who loved her country and loved her family and friends.
Besides her son and daughter-in-law she is also survived by her grandchildren, Suzanne & Jake Nua of Mount Vernon, Jason McCoy of Sedro-Woolley and Kimberly Kat & Ben Rampp of Lacey, WA. Eight grandchildren, Allee, Taylor, Kennedy & Aiden Nua and Wyatt, Devon, Jordan & Autumn McCoy. A niece, Gail Nivala and her husband, Dr. Lawrence Nivala and their daughter, Alissa of Port Angeles. ‘A special thank you to her hair dresser and friend, Candi McLaughlin at the Hair Factory in Sedro-Woolley for always making mom look so beautiful.’
Cremation arrangements are under the direction of Lemley Chapel, Sedro-Woolley. Inurnment will be in Whittier, California. Share your memories of Ronni and sign the online guestbook at www.lemleychapel.com

The following poem represents Ronni’s life:

MAY I GO NOW’
Don’t you think the time is right’
May I say good bye to pain filled days and endless lonely nights’
I’ve lived my life and done the best, an example tried to be.
So can I take that step beyond and set my spirit free’
I didn’t want to go at first.
I fought with all my might!
But something seems to draw me now to a warm and loving light.
I want to go!
I really do!
It’s difficult to stay.
But I will try as best I can to live one more day.
To give you time to care for me and share your love and tears.
I’ll not be far, I promise that, and hope you’ll always know
that my spirit will be close to you wherever you may go.
Thank you so for loving me.
You know I loved you too.
That’s why it’s hard to say good bye and end this life with you.
So hold me now, just one more time, and let me hear you say,
Because you care so much for me, you’ll let me go today.