Obituaries

Obituary: Marilyn E. Truitt

Long-time University Place resident Marilyn E. Truitt passed away on July 24, 2013. Memorial services will be held this week.

From the family of Marilyn E. Truitt:

Marilyn E. Truitt, age 80, passed away 10:30 a.m., July 24th at St. Claire Hospital after a difficult battle with pneumonia.

She is survived by her sons Edward R. Truitt and James T. (Bud) Truitt Jr., her grandsons Edward R. Truitt III, James T. (JT) Truitt III, David J. Truitt, Thomas T. Truitt, and her great granddaughter Justis M. Truitt, and great grandson to be Edward R. Truitt IV, as well as a loving daughter-in-law Lynne Truitt and granddaughter-in-law Nicole Truitt, and her sisters Micki Claxton & Darlene Rogers and her brother Ron Patek.

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Mom was born to a Depression-era family in Chicago on April 16, 1933. At 14, she met the love of her life, Jim Truitt, Sr when he offered to take her for a motorcycle ride. Dad went back into the service, separating them for four years. Dad tracked Mom down after she had moved, they became engaged and they married on August 15, 1933. Mom was a dedicated Air Force wife as dad transferred throughout the world during a 29-year career.  

The family spent time in California, Morocco, Washington, Montana, Nebraska, and Guam. Mom and Dad were active in their sons’ lives, even serving as scout leaders to insure their development through Eagle Scout.  Upon Jim’s retirement in 1978, they spent an interesting few years in Saudi Arabia while Jim worked for Northrop. In 1981, they elected to move to Tacoma where they bought and operated Truitt/Seeley Photo Studio in University Place until 1998. Dad came down with lymphoma cancer in 2003 and together they fought this disease and the fallout from his treatments for the next 10 years. Mom’s care of dad helped keep him alive and hopeful for those 10 years, but dad finally succumbed this last January. With him went a piece of Mom. 

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When Mom passed, she was surrounded by family that loved her, family she nurtured and cared for. Her passing was quiet, tender, almost a slipping away into eternity. She fought hard the previous 10 days but her desire to be reunited with her husband was greater than her need to be here among us. She will be deeply missed and will be lovingly remembered for the special soul she was. We love you Mom, will never forget you, and will always be grateful for the life and love you gave.  

Viewing, Memorial Service and Committal Service/Internment will be held on Wednesday, July 31st 2013.  The viewing will be from 9 to 9:30 a.m. at Edwards Funeral Home, 3005 Bridgeport Way W, University Place, WA. The Memorial Service will follow at 10am nearby at the Horace W. Tyler Masonic Lodge, 2530 Grandview Drive W followed by a reception/luncheon in the lodge. The Committal Service will be held later on Wednesday at Tahoma National Cemetery, 18600 Southeast 240th Street Kent, WA. Please have your vehicle lined up near the entrance no later than 2 pm in order to join the procession to the committal service.

Memories may be shared online via the comments here on Patch. Cards may be sent to James T. Truitt Jr. or to Edwards Memorial. Flowers may be sent to Edwards Funeral Home, or in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Shriner’s Hospitals for Children in memory of Marilyn and James T. Truitt Sr.


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