Ethel Mae Knapp

Ethel M. Knapp, 83, a life long resident of the Peninsula, died November 24, 2010 in Mesa, Arizona while visiting family. The daughter of Chris and Evelyn (Haring) Christensen, she was born September 4, 1927 at the family homestead on Bear River east of Ilwaco and grew up on the family dairy farm located on the Wallicut River. Ethel attended grade school in Ilwaco and Ilwaco high school. She and Elwin "Ellie" Knapp were married September 4, 1946 and established their residence in Ilwaco where Ethel became a wife, mother and homemaker. Ethel was very proud to be a life long resident of the local area. She attended Ocean Beach Presbyterian Church, was a member of Pacific Chapter Order of Eastern Star, past-member of Ilwaco Rebekahs, member of the Columbia-Pacific Heritage Museum and the AFSCME Retirees. Ethel loved to quilt and was a member of the Peninsula Quilt Guild and a local sewing group. Besides her love of quilting, Ethel's priority was her family. Weekly she and her two sisters had a routine on Sunday: attend church, go shopping and have lunch. Ethel also took great pride in her yard and flowers, was very organized, loved the color blue, was an avid clam digger and her fried clams were simply "the best". Ethel is survived by her daughter Kristine (Gene) Ford of Long Beach; son Ken (Pat) Knapp of Ilwaco; sisters Wilma (Al) Dorland of Ilwaco and Barbara (Lawrence "Lunk") Wallin of Ilwaco; grandchildren Michele Ford Kuntz, Luke Falk, Roxanne Fraiser, Bryn Ford Hartman and Bryce Ford; seven great-grandchildren; god-daughter Nicolle Kary and numerous nieces and nephews and other members of her extended family. She was preceded in death by her husband Ellie and son Kevin Knapp and her sister Della Knapp. Memorial service will be Saturday, December 11, 2010, 2:00 PM at the Peninsula Church Center in Seaview with a reception following. Private family graveside service will be at Ilwaco Cemetery. Memorials in her memory may be made to the Ilwaco Fire Department, Harbors Home Health and Hospice, Columbia-Pacific Heritage Museum, or the organization of one's choice in care of Penttila's Chapel by The Sea, PO Box 417, Long Beach, WA 98631. Her guestbook is available at www.penttilaschapel.com.