Wilma Medley
What do you remember about Wilma? Share your stories and photos here, and invite others to come share their memories.
Wilma Lee Blue Medley
(May 31, 1928 - August 22, 2015)
Wilma Lee Blue Medley, 87 years of age and a longtime East Hoquiam area resident, died on Saturday, August 22, 2015, at the Kadlec Hospital in Richland, Washington. She was born on May 31, 1928, in Honey Island, Harden County, Texas to Leslie D. and Letha Theora (Sterling) Blue. Her family moved to Batson, Texas when Wilma was a baby. When she was in the first grade, they moved to Centralia. At 13, they moved to Houston, Texas and she furthered her education by attending night school.
On October 26, 1946, Wilma married Deward “Buddy” Medley in Houston. He died on June 17, 2004. The couple resided in Centralia, WA where he worked for the railroad until they moved to Hoquiam in 1947. Wilma worked for the Grays Harbor Veneer Plant in Hoquiam where she was a sorter for the dryer. She retired from there in 1984.
Wilma was a member of the Immanuel Baptist Church of Hoquiam and attended their Bible study classes. She had traveled back to Texas over the years to visit relatives. She enjoyed crocheting, craft working, fishing, clam digging and working in her flower gardens.
Wilma is survived by, two grandchildren, Veronica DelAngel and Greg Mendoza of Kennewick, Washington; a son-in-law, Greg Mendoza of Bakersfield, California; eight great grandchildren; four great-great grandchildren, a brother, Kenneth Blue of Hoquiam, Washington; a half-brother, Alton Retherford of Hoquiam, Washington; two half-sisters, Barbara Townsend of Broaddus, Texas and Letha Tatum of Nacogdoches, Texas and a step-brother, Jack Retherford of Roswell, New Mexico as well as numerous other relatives.
In addition to Buddy, she was also preceded in death by a daughter, Judy Ann Mendoza of Kennewick who died in 1990, a son, David Earl Medley of Clearwater, Washington in 2010; her mother, Letha Theora Retherford of Jasper, Texas in 2007; a half-brother, Oscar Retherford of Bronson, Texas in 2012; and her father, Leslie D. Blue.