October 16, 1937 - July 23, 2023
Sylvia Starr, 85, of Nine Mile Falls, WA passed away in July 2023 at The Cottages of Spokane. Sylvia was born in October 1937 and grew up in the mountains near Naches WA. She graduated from Naches High School where she played drums in the marching band. Sylvia excelled in the 4-H home economics program earning a trip to nationals. Sylvia met her husband, Mark, while waitressing at the White Pass Ski Area and started their family in Spokane, WA. They raised their children and became foster parents in Issaquah WA, while Sylvia earned a master’s degree in special education from the University of Washington. She taught special education and third grade at Sunny Hills Elementary in Issaquah. She enjoyed working with children and became a 4-H club leader for her children and their neighborhood friends. Sylvia and Mark loved to help people, even hosting/sponsoring a Vietnamese family of five, who fled Vietnam in 1975. They also hosted exchange students from Japan and took in other people in need. Sylvia enjoyed reading, crocheting, scrapbooking, and coloring, but mostly her pets, friends, and family. She owned many animals, cats, dogs, horses, rabbits, ducks, goats, etc. over the years. When she was a child, her family had a pet porcupine named Porky and while raising her kids, she had a pet rooster named Super Chicken, both tame. Sylvia loved to travel throughout the United States and the world, visiting China, Scotland, Costa Rica, Kenya, Australia, etc... Later, she lived in North Bend WA and became active with the Mt. Si Senior Center and Seattle Humane Society. In 2020, she moved to Nine Mile Falls, WA. She is survived by her son, John, her daughter, Marilyn, and her two grandsons, Steven and Russell. She is also survived by her foster daughter, Robin, her sister, Ellen, and her brother, Ed. Sylvia’s husband, Mark, preceded her in death. A small, family celebration of Sylvia's life is being planned. Remembrances can be made to Seattle Humane, 13212 SE Eastgate Way, Bellevue, WA 98005, www.seattlehumane.org. Friends are invited to share memories and sign the family’s online guestbook at www.pnwcremation.com.
Comments