Dariel L. Cullom

The communities of Ocean Park and Long Beach WA have lost one of their well-loved seniors. Dariel Lorene Cullom died of natural causes Feb. 14, 2010 at the age of 84 at the home of her daughter in Long Beach. She died in peace with family love surrounding her and with appreciation for the marvelous life she had been given including her last ten years in the friendly and genuine" beach community of Ocean Park WA. Lorene is survived by son Michael Lee Cullom of Cathlamet WA, son Jerald Arlyn Cullom of Longview WA and daughter Laurie Ann Buscher of Long Beach WA. In addition, Lorene was proud and grateful for the gift of six grandchildren and three great grandchildren. Born Dariel Lorene Walters on May 28, 1925, Lorene was raised in Porter, WA during the Great Depression . Her mother, Katie Davis, came from Panama, Oklahoma during the Dust Bowl days. Her father was born Alexander Stevenson but was named Paul Walters after adoption at age 2 from the Seattle Children's Foundling Home, only to be reacquainted and neighbor to his original Native American parents, after he had married and had a family of his own. Lorene was preceded in death by her brother Dewey and survived by her sister, Loretta Coats, of Bremerton, WA. Around the age of 7, Lorene began to experience hearing loss leading to total deafness by age 11. She was subsequently sent to the Washington State School for the Deaf in Vancouver at age 12. Her ability to read lips was unmatched and she quickly transitioned to lip reading with normal speech rather than sign language. Here, Lorene flourished and was chosen Editor of her high school yearbook, "The Fir Cone", in addition to many other awards and special accolades for teaching younger deaf children at the school. Upon her graduation in 1941 at age 15, she received a full scholarship to the well-known school for the deaf, Gallaudet University in Washington, DC. As enrollment time neared, however, the board of directors at both schools felt she should delay her arrival by one year to "mature". Instead of waiting for Gallaudet, Lorene matured on her own and quickly found work helping a dear friend who was a war bride and new mother with a young child in Bremerton WA. She also worked part-time in war effort projects in Bremerton where she met her eventual husband, Arlyn K. Cullom, a skilled welder at the shipyard there. Arlyn and Lorene married in 1942 and began their life in Bremerton while Arlyn worked in the shipyards. The couple then moved to Kelso WA for Arlyn to work at his father's machine shop which had just received a large contract from the government . The move had to be approved by Arlyn's Commanding Officer who felt his skills at building machinery and repairs would better serve the war effort in Kelso. They began a family there, ultimately settling in Vader for 55 years where they built a Pacific Northwest lifestyle that included owning and operating a logging mill, machine shop and Vader Motors. They were avid fishermen both in sport and commercial salmon fishing for over 21 years. Lorene even tapped into her inherited lumberjack abilities by setting chokers for Arlyn while he logged, in their earlier years together. The two became known as Mr. and Mrs. "Pee Wee" by fishing buddies from Westport and Ilwaco, though they had friends from around the world. The pair traveled extensively throughout Europe, the United States, Mexico, the former USSR, and Oceania. They celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary by climbing to the top , then sliding to the bottom, of Ayers Rock in Australia. Lorene continued correspondence with friends made around the years until her death. Lorene was active in the community and in her children's lives. She attended football games, musical concerts, fundraisers, Scout meetings, always beaming and supportive. She was known throughout Vader and much of Lewis County for her self- taught cake design and decorating expertise, bringing extra income to the family. Lorene gardened and was a long time member of the Vader Garden Club, as well as a short membership with the Eastern Star. Most of her time was spent gardening, canning, mowing lawn, getting the boat or motor home ready to go and caring for her family as well as a Foster Child, Gayla Steveson, of Vader, WA. After moving to Ocean Park in 1996, Lorene's life became more private. Her focus was more on reading, hanging baskets and sports of all kinds. She could still be seen rolling up her pants on the first day of clam season. Getting her final limit at age 84. Lorene and Arlyn Cullom's remains will be scattered together across the bar at Westport, where they spent their happiest times. Lorene's family extends a heartfelt "thank you" to all who made her life in Ocean Park, Westport, Vader, Vancouver, Kelso, Bremerton, Porter and beyond exactly the kind she had wanted. No public services will be held. The family asks that in lieu of flowers, a small donation be made to the Long Beach WA Humane Society PO Box 101 Long Beach, WA 98631. Arrangements by Penttila's Chapel by The Sea Long Beach.