Obituaries

Rose Margaret Waddington-Dockter

Obituary

Rose Margaret Waddington-Dockter, 100, born in Salmon, Idaho to Watts and Elsie Waddington on November 4th 1922, passed away surrounded by her family on January 22nd 2023 in Kirkland, Washington.

She has been reunited with three of her children who preceded her in death: her eldest son Evan and two young daughters, along with 10 of her siblings. She is survived by her children Cynthia, Carol, Walter Paul, Coleen Gail, Isaac Stephen, David, Jubilee, Drusilla, Life, Deliverance, and four generations of descendants.

Rose- a fair child, born with a sparkle in her eyes, and spunk in her soul, was destined to change the world. Born on a ranch in Salmon, Idaho, the 8th of 11 children, she was raised on old-fashioned values; hard-work, loyalty, and a creative way of thinking. A time before indoor heating, running water, or plumbing, she was raised with family being the center of life. She rode horses to a one-room schoolhouse, and was always up for a prank or two. She loved playing sports, was on the first Salmon's girls basketball team and went to state.

In addition to all the family chores, she found time to break her nose, playing catcher. She worked at the Soda Fountain Shop in the local Pharmacy, and studied to be a nurse. She studied Latin and was one of the best spellers, continuing to ace most of the Reader's Digest word quizzes throughout her life. She loved reading, writing poems, and singing ditties.

She married when she was 18 years old and had her first precious little boy when she was 20. He was the first of her 13 children, each one their very own expression of her sparkle and spunk. At 45, in a hut in the mountains of Puerto Rico, she gave birth to her last little one, and true to her spunky nature, was walking on stilts just a week before!

From her small town upbringing, she would go on to travel the world visiting upward of 35 countries, doing missionary work in each. She lived her life in both the presence of royalty and paupers, always a lady filled with dignity and grace.

The last phase of her life, she spent her years in her favorite pass-time, loving on her family! She dedicated herself to her children, grandkids and great-grandchildren. She threw parties, attended recitals, and at every sporting activity hooped and hollered, winning #1 fan status. She was often off flying to graduations, weddings and attending births of the latest additions, while still providing for herself. She always had a closet filled with goodies for the grandkids, and they knew right where to go for their favorite toys and a place on her lap. She was driving up until she was 92 and living on her own until she was 95, always reminding us she didn't want to hang out with 'old people'! Even in her 100th year, she was still attending all kinds of celebrations, all styling.
Huggy Rose hugged on everyone, from family, friends, neighbors, servers, grocers, to complete strangers on the street- often leaving many moved to tears. Always upbeat, rarely if ever a complaint, and always so grateful! Even in her very last days, though struggling to speak, her last words were 'I Love You' and 'Thank You'! Thank you for the loving imprint forever on our lives!

She was laid to rest with an intimate ceremony at Abbey View Memorial Park, and her Celebration of Life was held on Saturday, January 28th at Woodin Valley Baptist Church.

Mother, Grandmother, Great-Grandmother, Great-Great-Grandmother, Aunt, and Friend, is loved by many, and her hugs are felt the world over!