Eleanor Maria Settles Lumley died at the age of 92 on July 6, 2014, in Anacortes. Eleanor was born at the Pt. Arguello Lighthouse in Lompoc, Calif., on April 14, 1922, to Arvel and Helga Settles.
The family lived up and down the West Coast, where Arvel served as lighthouse keeper at several lighthouses.
They came to San Juan Island in the 1930s and lived in one of the Coast Guard houses at the Lime Kiln Lighthouse, where Arvel worked as the lighthouse keeper until 1945.
Eleanor attended school in Friday Harbor and spent many wonderful years at the Lime Kiln Lighthouse. Lighthouses always held a special place in her heart. Eleanor was beautiful, kind and gentle. She met and married Claude Lumley on July 4, 1943. They lived in Arizona, California and finally settled in Oak Harbor. They always loved coming back to Friday Harbor to visit family and enjoy island life.
Eleanor was an accomplished seamstress and made clothing as well as doll clothes for the children in her life. She was also a prolific letter writer, and her family and friends will miss her correspondence, useful articles and recipes. She always had a positive attitude and appreciated each day given to her.
Eleanor was preceded in death by her husband, Claude; brothers Charles and Jack Settles; sister Evelyn Doyle; mother Helga Settles; and father Arvel Settles. She is survived by her sister Agnes Murray and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
A graveside service was held at the San Juan Valley Cemetery in Friday Harbor on July 15, 2014, where she was laid to rest next to her husband, Claude.
Remembrances can be made to the Friends of Lime Kiln Society.
Mail to Friends of Lime Kiln Society c/o Lime Kiln Point State Park, 1567 Westside Road, Friday Harbor, WA 98250 or online at http://friendsoflimekilnso