Obituary: Gilbert, Lorraine F.
She was born on November 9, 1931 in Bemidji, MN to Roger and Evelyn Burley and lived there until Lorraine graduated from High School.
Lorraine then met and married the father of her children Del Hayes and moved to Spokane County where they raised their four “amazing” children.
Although they would go on to lead separate lives and remarry other people they remained best friends.
Later Lorraine met and married her Wyoming cowboy and they spent their summers at Sutton Bay on Newman Lake in a little beach side cabin called the Jazz Inn.
Lorraine and her grandchildren became very close over the many summers and many great memories were made there.
After losing her husband “Bobert” Lorraine spent her golden years babysitting her grandchildren and then great-grandchildren.
She then went on to fulfil her lifelong dream of retiring in Florida with her grandson and roommate B.J.
They stayed for a time with her grandson Jeremy in Orlando.
After seven years of exploring the beaches of Florida, Lorraine and B.J.
returned home to Spokane to her grandbabies who lovingly called her “Nammy”.
Though our sadness is profound and our loss is great we were blessed to have shared our lives with the most wonderful woman god ever created.
Lorraine is survived by her four children: D. Renee Whipple (Michael), Judge Debra Hayes, Denise Kestell (Jack), and Rick Hayes (Anita) as well as 18 grandchildren, 28 great-grandchildren and numerous and much loved nieces and nephews.
She is also survived by her best friend forever Irene Cooper of Alma, Washington.
She was preceded in death by her parents Roger and Evelyn.
Husband Robert D. Gilbert, father of her children Del R. Hayes, brothers Nathan and Ted Burley, sisters Mary Lou Burley and Opal Smith, one niece Teresa Smith and grandchildren Mercedes Johnson and Joe Apperson.
A Memorial Service will be held at Heritage Funeral Home on Saturday, August 22, 2015 at 2:00PM with a private burial at the Chattaroy Cemetery.
There will also be a Memorial Service held at the Kingdom Hall of the Jehovah Witnesses, 2504 E. 57th Ave. on August 30, 2015 at 4:00PM.
A memorial fund has been set up at Spokane Teacher’s Credit Union for her animal’s home.