Vera Angeline Olsen died at her home in Anacortes on July 20 at the age of 102.

She was born Feb. 12, 1913, in Mangum, Okla., to Riley and Minnie Kennedy. She spent her first five years in Oklahoma and then followed her family to Texas, where she attended school in Petraline, Texas, and then moved to Wichita Falls. Vera’s father was a funeral director and the family moved frequently, serving at different funeral homes in the area.

Vera met her husband, Hans Olsen, a Whidbey Island native, in 1939 and on Dec. 14, 1940, they were married.

Hans was in the Navy and he and Vera continued to move on a regular basis. They spent time in Torrence, Calif., and when Han’s tour of duty was completed, decided to return to his roots in Oak Harbor. The Olsen family had a large amount of land in the Mariner’s Cove area, and they settled at Strawberry Point on the property known as “School House Hill.”

Hans began a career as a commercial fisherman, operating his boat, the “Concord.” Vera and Hans continued their legacy of moving and left Oak Harbor for Napa, Calif. Several years later, they moved to Anacortes, settling first on a farm and then at Skyline, then another location before settling at Sunrise Estates. For a time, Vera worked at the cannery in Anacortes.

Vera loved to work in her garden, mow her yard, clean and maintain her home and cook. She enjoyed games, the newspaper and the news, and she was an avid dominoes player. She loved activities which kept her mind active. Her attitude was to take one day at a time and her favorite saying was “my bags are not packed.”

Vera is survived by one daughter, Judy, and husband, John, of Anacortes and Bend, Ore.; by one granddaughter, Kaci Parker, of Spokane; by two great-grandchildren, Shahalie and Brandon Totten, of Bend, Ore.; and one great-great-grandchild, Haven, also of Bend; and a special nephew, Corky Canfield. She was preceded in death by her husband, Hans, in 2001; by one granddaughter, Gwen Totten; and by her parents and five siblings.

Graveside funeral services for Vera were held July 24, at Maple Leaf Cemetery, Oak Harbor, with Gary Wallin, life celebrant, officiating. Vera was laid to rest next to her beloved husband. Arrangements are entrusted to Wallin Funeral Home & Cremation, LLC, Oak Harbor, Wash. To share memories and condolences, please visit Vera’s page in the Book of Memories at www.wallinfuneralhome.com