Friends and family are mourning the loss of two Oak Harbor women who died Wednesday in a single-car accident on State Highway 20 in Skagit County.
Gail A. Wieldraayer, 59, and Lorna M. Wieldraayer, 84, were both seriously injured and airlifted to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, where they each succumbed to their injuries, according to the Washington State Patrol.
The mother and daughter lived together, said family member Tina Provoncha. Lorna Wieldraayer was her grandmother.
“They pretty much went everywhere together,” she said.
They were longtime members of First Reformed Church and both musically talented.
“My grandmother sang in the church choir,” Provoncha said. “My aunt was amazing at the piano.”
Gail Wieldraayer ran Miss Gail’s School of Music for a while and was “always dabbling at teaching,” she added.
“They really were just two people who couldn’t live without each other,” Provoncha said. “We take solace that they are still together.”
Lorna Wieldraayer worked as a postal carrier for a number of years, something she enjoyed very much. She was also sharp as a tack.
“She could probably still name everyone on her route,” Provoncha said. “Everybody loved them — all their friends, family and church family. They touched a lot of people’s lives.”
Trooper Mark Francis said Gail Wieldraayer was driving a 2000 Ford Explorer east on the highway, went off the road on the right, struck a sign, crossed over Reservation Road, went through a ditch and struck a concrete wall surrounding a topsoil business. The collision was reported at 10:39 a.m.
Trooper Mark Francis said the highway was shut down for about 20 minutes so that the women could be airlifted from the scene.
He said the cause of the accident is under investigation. Both women were wearing seat belts and intoxication is not suspected.
An official day and time for services has not been set and may not happen for a little while, but the family will publicize the details when they are.
And while the family is still very much in shock, Provoncha said that spending Easter with her grandmother this past Sunday is something she’s very thankful for.
“It was nice to be able to spend that time with her,” she said.
