My Mom

Cicely M. McKendrick
of Manchester, WA
Formerly of Winnipeg, MB
April 21, 1922 to
October 13, 2009

Our dearest mother passed away at age 87 at Hospice of Kitsap County of congestive heart failure.

Cicely was born and grew up in Winnipeg, Manitoba to British parents, Kate Maria (Claydon) and George Albert Tolhurst. She was graduated from Issac Newton High School in 1939. At the outbreak of WWII Cicely joined the Women’s Royal Canadian Naval Service (WRCNS). When the war ended, Cicely chose to take Canadian citizenship and moved to Vancouver, BC where she worked as a stenographer for TWA until she met her husband, Iain McKendrick of Glasgow, Scotland. They married on June 17, 1949 and made their first home in the United States in Cleveland, Ohio before moving to Bellevue, Washington in 1950. The couple both earned U.S. citizenship in 1957. Cicely and Iain relocated to Southworth, Washington in 1962, where Cicely lived until 2005 when she moved to Manchester to be near her son and his family.

In the 1950's Cicely worked for the Bank of California. The 1960's saw her taking a wide variety of classes at Olympic College and graduating nursing school. This was a very busy time in her life as she was also assisting her husband as a secretary in his business and rearing her family. She later became a Master Gardener and Master Food Preserver. She joined many organizations, including a diabetes support group, Friends of the Library, a writers club, and bible study seminars.

Cicely read widely, enjoyed cross word puzzles,
bird watching, cooking shows, traveling to the U.K., Europe, and touring North America. Cicely, an animal lover, treasured her pets and contributed regularly to the Humane Society and other animal charities. We will miss her steadfastness, support, devotion, and love for us so much. Even through her battles with diabetes complications and painful physical challenges Cicely never lost her sophisticated, dry sense of humor nor her vigorous strength of will.

Cicely is preceded in death by her husband Iain (1981), her parents, and many friends.

Survivors include her son, Harry (Rita) of Manchester, daughter, Morag (Loren) of Honolulu, and two granddaughters, Kayla and Holly.

A private ceremony to scatter Cicely’s ashes is planned for Saturday, January 30, 2010.

Memorial donations may be made to the charity of one’s choice.