Nancy Ann Deife

Nancy Ann Deife, age 71, passed peacefully on May 8, 2019 in Odessa, WA. She was born August 4, 1947 to Ray and Eleanor Schorzman. She was preceded in death by her parents and by her brother Robert Schorzman.

She will be dearly missed by her loving family: Dale Deife, husband of 27 years;sister Susan Adams; children Joe (Rhonda) Evavold, Matt (Anne) Evavold, Brandi (Jason) Maioho and Dalles (Suzie) Deife, her beloved grandchildren Karlee Maioho, Daeton Deife, Melloney Deife, Kaidyn Kai Maioho, Kallen Maioho, Grace Dammon, Cora Dammon, numerous extended family and countless friends.

Nancy was an exceptionally sweet, loving, caring and beautiful person. Anyone who met her was touched by her graciousness and immediately felt her genuine interest, empathy and honest engagement. She was a strong person, disciplined and fearless. A hard worker, she was disarmingly bright and could be serious when it was appropriate. In her role as mother and grandmother she instilled tolerance and kindness. She was inspiring, insightful, generous, nurturing and fair. She doubled as a surprise injury triage nurse, an impressive race car driver when school-bound, and she could summon children from miles away with her whistle.

Nancy's nature was fun-loving. She was uniquely gregarious, silly and witty, with a great sense of humor. Creatively talented in music, she played the piano, the organ at church and clarinet with the Oom Pas and Mas during the Odessa Deutschesfest. She also expressed her creativity through quilting, and she dedicated many quilts to loved ones. She loved to joke around and would always make people laugh and feel at ease. If you knew her well, you knew she adored kitties and all things purple. If you offered her a cigar, she wouldn't refuse.

Nancy excelled at her position of Odessa High School office secretary for 20 years. She was "Mom" to throngs of kids throughout the years and kept the place running smoothly through all the changes around her that 20 years can bring. She touched so many lives, and her life was enriched by the love that she received in return from her community, for which she was eternally grateful. To say she will be missed is an understatement, and a certainty to all who knew her and loved her. We love you, Mom, Sister, Grandma, Nancy.