Lillian Mae Walker

Lillian M. Walker

November 18, 1918 - February 20, 2020

Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies.  Proverbs 31:10

Born on a farm in Louisburg, KS to John and Nell Barker,  Lillian was raised with 3 brothers- Lawrence, Jared, Gene, and sister Doris.  After graduating high school she took teacher training and taught in a one room school for 2 years.  She did not enjoy teaching very much so was glad to join her sister Doris becoming a radio teletype operator in Missoula MT and eventually New York City during WWII.  She and Doris enjoyed big city life through the end of the war and experienced Times Square on V-J Day.

When Doris and her husband James moved to Seattle, Lillian soon joined them to assist with the babies, marry briefly, and then support herself as a secretary through retirement.  After many years at GSA, her last job was with the National Parks Service office in downtown Seattle.  

As a strong Christian, Lillian was very involved with church groups and Bible studies.  She taught piano to anyone willing to learn, playing at church and home throughout her life.  She became involved in Toastmistress learning speaking skills, enjoyed reading, sewing, music, singing, baking “healthy cookies,” and supporting various missions.  Brother Jared (Marilee) began a mission in the Philippines developing schools. Lillian was led to temporarily leave her career in 1971-72 to go and assist teaching in the secretarial department of King's College in Koronadal City, South Cotabato.  Her musical and church ministries were also a great help and blessing to the ministry of Philippine Evangelical Enterprises Inc.

Throughout her life Lillian was fondly called Auntie Tom- first by her young niece Mauria, nephews Pete, Ed, and Paul, and soon by all who knew her well.  She was involved in their lives from birth, holidays, birthdays, vacations, and dinners that she lovingly prepared for them in her apartments for as long as they would come.  She assisted Doris and Jim in caring for great niece Hailee from birth to kindergarten, and had great love for her and great niece, Mylece. She took care to maintain contact with family relatives old and new as they scattered from Seattle to Kansas and all over the world. She was the family historian often telling stories of relatives  and events from the past. She sponsored 3 children through her monthly giving to World Vision.

She will be buried next to her great friend, companion, and caregiver Emily Tay.  Together they enjoyed music, opera, symphonies, church activities and much more until Emily’s death in 2018.

They will both be loved, fondly remembered, and missed more than they could have known as they rest side by side at Haven of Rest, enjoying the view, their reunion with each other,  and other loved family previously deceased: Lawrence, Jared, and Doris.

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