Obituary of Darrelyn Milne

Darrelyn “Dee” Milne

 

Darrelyn “Dee” Milne was a native Washingtonian, born in Mt. Vernon to parents Darrell and Florence (Johnson) Semon.  Her family moved to Centralia, then to Seattle where she grew up.  Dee’s childhood summers were spent at her grandparents’ farm on Anderson Island.  Her endless summer days at that last isolated outpost of wood stoves, kerosene lamps, and crank telephones, in the company of farmers, tugboat uncles, aunts and neighbors making home-baked cookies, cousins, grandparents, eccentric shopkeepers and young friends visiting from the city, left her with a love of life and beauty, animals and flowers and people, that lasted forever after.

 

After that best of childhoods, Dee worked as a telephone operator in Seattle and immersed herself in ballet and dance at the Cornish School of Ballet.  She started an adult life of adventure by enlisting as a crew member on cousin Bob’s homemade schooner (the “Bobcat”) for a voyage from Anderson Island to Panama.  Mom, concerned, leveraged her to enroll at the University of Washington after the voyage, as a condition for giving permission.  (Mom then also signed on for part of the voyage.)   Returned from Panama, Dee enrolled in the University’s Oceanography Department and would have been the first American woman to earn a BA degree in that subject except for … another adventure.  A year in Europe, much of it hitchhiking with French friend Chris Criper.   Upon her return, she completed the degree requirements and worked at the Department as a crustacean taxonomist and deckhand on the research vessel, RV Brown Bear.  She and her future husband, then a graduate student at the University, discovered deep kinship with each other on the heaving, pitching stern of that vessel, cheering and exhilarated by the roaring midnight tumult of the Columbus Day Storm.

 

Dee married Dave Milne in August, 1964. Their marriage lasted for 54 years.  As Dave pursued a career in higher education (Purdue, Oregon State, Evergreen), Dee managed their household and followed her guiding stars in the arts.  She was a dancer and costume designer in and for musicals, a potter, a watercolor artist, and above all a fiber arts craftswoman.  Dee joined the Olympia Weavers Guild during the 1970s and spent the next four decades weaving, spinning, coloring with natural dyes, sewing, embroidering, and creating tapestries, rugs, garments, baskets, masks and the like, using wool, linen, silk and grocery-bag plastic -- some items for sale, more just for the joy of creating beautiful things.

 

Her life of adventure continued with her husband, partly as a member of the Olympia Friendship Force travel club, partly in impromptu crazy expeditions organized with long-time family friends, in explorations of Mexico, Kenya, Belize, Australia, the USSR, European nations and many destinations in North America.  With her husband, she hosted many adventure visits to Washington by nieces and nephews, and class picnics at Anderson Island. Dee loved to participate in strenuous field research projects in the salt marshes of Willapa Bay and especially enjoyed overnights with friends and family at the Bay’s Tokeland Hotel.

 

Dee’s life and creativity ended much too soon. She slipped into worsening dementia in 2016 and passed away two years later.  Her absence is deeply felt by family—foremost among them brother, Richard Semon (and spouse Andrea); brother-in-law, Mike Milne (spouse Ruth); dear cousin, Jean Ameluxen; husband, Dave; and many, many friends.  Her passing leaves an empty space in the lives of all who loved her.

 

If you’d like to make a contribution in Dee’s honor, here are two of her favorites: Seattle Children’s Hospital, MS-S-200, PO Box 5371, Seattle, WA 98145-5005; Anderson Island Historical Society, Johnson Farm, Otso Point Road, Anderson Island, WA 98303; or contribute to a charitable organization of your choice!

 

A memorial celebration will be held Saturday, November 3, 2018, 2:00 p.m. at Anderson Island Community Clubhouse, 11319 Yoman Road, Anderson Island, WA 98303; phone, 253-884-2893. 

 

 

DIRECTIONS:

 

All the contact info you might need to know!

 

Rendezvous House on Island	(253) 884-7626
Ferry info
Dave’s home phone	(360) 427-6675
Dave’s cell phone (try home # 1st)	(360) 229-3400
Restaurant	(253) 884-3344
Community Club	(253) 884-2893
All of this information is on line at website

1) Getting there.  Anderson Island is accessible by ferry from Steilacoom, Washington. 

 

From I-5, take Exit 119.  Cross the RR tracks just N of the I-5 overpass and turn right (immediately, before or at the light) and follow that road all the way to its end at the ferry dock (~ 10 miles). 

 

2) Our Rendezvous on Anderson Island.  Home of Richard and Andrea Semon.  Phone: (253) 884-7626.  Go there first if you take the noon ferry or an earlier one.

 

3a) Board the Ferry by Car.  At the ferry loading area (to your left as you approach) turn left & enter Lane 1 (next to the curb).  Or Lane 2 if 1 is full, Lane 3 if 2 is full.  Park, walk to the dock, purchase car-and-driver-ticket and any passenger tickets at the office.  Wait in car, board ferry when line moves.  Car should be in line 20 minutes before ferry departure.

 

3b) Board the Ferry on foot.  Park in Pay Parking Lot left side of Lane 1.  Walk to office on ferry dock, pur­chase passenger ticket.  Stay there, walk on ferry when instructed.  At Anderson Island, walk to the Rendez­vous or call (253) 884 7626 for a ride.

 

4) At Anderson Island, leave ferry, turn right on Larson Road just up the hill from dock, through the line of cars waiting to board ferry.  On Larson Road go about ½ mile, cross slough, enter gate on immediate right. You’re at our rendezvous!  Park, walk to house of Richard & Andrea Semon.

 

5) Ferry Schedule.  (Friday, Saturday, Sunday).

 

Leave Steilacoom	Leave Anderson Island
8:00 AM	8:30 AM
9:00 AM	9:30 AM
10:00 AM	10:30 AM
Noon	12:30 PM
2:20 PM	2:50 PM
3:20 PM	3:50 PM
4:20 PM	4:50 PM
5:30 PM	6:00 PM
6:40 PM	7:10 PM
7:40 PM	8:10 PM
8:40 PM	9:10 PM
10:00 PM*	10:30 PM*

* Friday and Saturday only

Ferry website is   You can return to Steilacoom from the Memorial as late as 10:30 PM Saturday.

 

Purchased tickets are round-trip. No need to show them for the return trip.

 

5) Cost Round Trip.  Ferry: Senior driver + vehicle $14.00 (non-senior + vehicle $16.80).  Walk on senior or car passenger $2.50 (non-senior adult $5.00).  Park­ing Lot $8.00 for 12 hours.  Credit Cards Only at Parking Lot, cash or cards at ferry office.  Visa or MasterCard only.  Google Pierce Co. Ferry Schedule and Fares for details (inc. disabled passengers, children).

 

6) The Memorial Celebration.

 

Meet in the old Anderson Island Community Club on the main road from the ferry.  Phone (253) 884-2893.

 

Doors open                  2:00 PM

Celebration begins      2:30 PM

End of celebration      4:00 PM

 

After the celebration, all are invited to join Dave and Dee’s family for dinner at the Riviera Lakeshore Bar & Grill Restaurant on the island.  Doors open at four, orders taken starting at 4:00.  Phone (253) 884-3344.

 

To get to the restaurant …  turn right leaving the Com­mun­ity Club parking lot and follow the main road as far as the Island Store (on the right).  Just past the Is­land Store, turn left into the Riviera area (at the Riviera sign).  Follow that road for a mile or so to a stop sign.  (The first stop sign; there is a Riviera sign at this inter­section.)  At the stop sign turn left.  The restaurant is about ¼ mile down that road, on the right.

 

Restaurant Menu (sans appetizers & beverages), next page.  Optional. To pre-order, call (253) 884-3344 and say that you’re with the Milne party. 

 

Salads Beef Tostada Salad – 12.25 seasoned taco beef, lettuce, tomatoes, olives, cheddar, green onions, and cilantro on a fried corn tortilla shell Wedge Salad – 6.95 iceberg lettuce topped with bacon, bleu cheese, green onions, tomatoes, and almonds Chef Salad – 12.25 turkey, ham, swiss, cheddar, tomatoes, olives, and boiled egg Grilled Caesar Salad - 11.00 romaine lettuce grilled with house-made croutons, parmesan cheese and caesar dressing ADD Chicken Breast - 2.00 Prosciutto Cantaloupe Salad - 14.50 cantaloupe, thinly sliced prosciutto, goat cheese with arugula and balsamic glaze

Sandwiches Philly Burger Dip* – 11.75 1/3rd lb. angus beef patty served on a toasted french roll with mozzarella, grilled onions, bell peppers and mushrooms BLT – 9.75 Triple Decker Club – 12.25 turkey, ham, bacon, lettuce and tomatoes on sourdough Monte Cristo - 11.25 turkey, ham, swiss and cheddar on egg bread dipped in egg and fried served with Cream Cheese and Raspberry Preserves

Burgers The Riviera Pub House* – 13.75 1/2-pound double R ranch gmo-free, grain fed beef patty topped with bacon, cheddar, and caramelized onions with bacon aioli sauce The Lakeshore* – 9.75 Cheddar Bacon Burger* – 11.75 Bleu Cheese Bacon Burger* – 12.50 Teriyaki Burger* – 11.00 substitute a chicken or veggie burger for the same price add bacon or fried egg – 1.50 add cheese – 1.00 Pizza Cheese Pizza – 11.25 Add Veggies - .50 each – olives, tomatoes, jalapenos, pineapple, bell peppers Add Meat – 2.00 each – pepperoni, sausage, bacon, canadian bacon, ham, chicken The Riviera – 16.00 our supreme pizza with pepperoni, sausage, olives, onions, mushrooms, and tomatoes Prosciutto Pizza - 16.95 prosciutto, potato, arugula, goat cheese, mozzarella with garlic sauce and balsamic glaze Chicken Pizza - 16.95 chicken, artichokes, spinach, bleu cheese, mozzarella with garlic sauce and white truffle oil Entrées Guinness Stout Fish and chips – 12.75 our hand battered guinness cod served with coleslaw and fries Mahi Mahi Fish Tacos – 12.75 grilled mahi mahi served on flour or corn tortillas with cabbage, cilantro cream sauce and fresh fruit salsa Chicken Linguini with Pesto - 13.75 Thai Style Broiled Salmon - 15.95 broiled salmon topped with a sweet thai chili aioli fresh basil and pickled ginger Mahi Mahi with Fresh Fruit Salsa - 15.75 8oz Peppercorn New York - 23.00 broiled new york strip crusted in peppercorns with a demi-glace and tabasco straw onions

 

 

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