Lucille Mae Sorensen Gress

February 10, 1933 – September 1, 2021

Lucille Mae Sorensen Gress was born to Helen and James Monroe Sorensen on February 10, 1933, in Farwell, Nebraska. She died surrounded by family on September 1, 2021, at the age of 88, in Enumclaw, WA.

Lucille Gress was a treasured friend, favorite aunt, matriarch to the Gress clan, beloved sister, loving wife, "Grammy" and the very best Mom. She raised four daughters and was very proud of them. They are grateful to her for teaching them the values of compassion and kindness, love, and friendship.

Lucille’s original hometown was Dannebrog, Nebraska. Her family later moved to Washington and in 1950, at age 17, she graduated from Grandview High School. Lucille went right to work at Hanford in Richland. She was living in a company dormitory when she met the love of her life- LeRoy 'Larry' Gress. They married on New Year's Eve, 1954. The couple moved to Renton and started their family. In the years that followed, four girls were born to Larry and Lucille.

When her girls were all out of grade school, Lucille went to work at Mutual of Enumclaw. Many of her workmates also became lifelong friends.

A couple of years after Mr. Gress passed away (2003), Mrs. Gress moved from their home in the country to Rio Verde in Auburn. The location made it easy for all of her old friends to come and see her. She and her buddies took trips to the ocean and went river rafting. Lucille's new community welcomed her to the crafting group and the Skip-Bo, pinochle, and penny poker games. More friendships formed as she shared her delightful sense of humor. Family and friends visited often. Until recently, Lucille’s calendar was filled with social engagements.

She leaves behind daughters Terri (Mark) Charabonneau, Patsy (Steven) Dehline, Laurie (Gary) DeSouza, and Sally (Leon) Schloer; grandchildren Ian (Meghan) Dehline, Jordan (Aric) Burt, Mandi DeSouza, Cory DeSouza, Matthew Schloer, and Alexander Schloer; great-grandchildren Zoe Dehline and Ford Burt; and sister Dorothy Sorensen Wachtel; as well as the many nieces and nephews who were close to her heart.

Preceded in death by her husband, parents, brothers LaVern and Gene Sorensen, and grandchildren Chase Dehline and Sky Charbonneau. Lucille Gress will be missed by her entire family and her many friends both new and old, ‘one is silver and the other gold.’