Obituary of Illona Rae Root

Illona Rae Root, 69, passed away January 4, 2019 in Olympia, Washington.  She was born May 28, 1949 to Alma and Ivan Mitchell in Greybull, Wyoming.

Illona earned an Associate of Arts Degree from Los Angeles Valley College in 1974, a Bachelor of Arts in 1978 and Master of Arts in 1982 from California State University, and Bachelor of Education in 2003.

She had a wide-ranging career, which included SCUBA instructor (1980), EMT (1983), secretary (1968-1977), fabric designer/marketing director (1977-1983), set designer/painter at Universal Studios (1988), and teacher at Black Hills High School (2003-2014).

Illona was kind, brave, and strong-willed.  She was a feminist and adventurer, and had an incredible fighting spirit. She loved silk screening, batiking, ceramic work, music, baking, working with the Procession of the Species, and spending time with her daughters and grandsons.  She was a member of Olympia First Baptist Church, and the Procession of the Species organization.

She is survived by her daughters, Anna Root and her son, Onyx; and Lara Murdock, her husband Justin Murdock, and their sons, Dylan, Miles, and Chance.  She was predeceased by her parents, Alma and Ivan Mitchell; and older brother, James Mitchell.

Services will be held Saturday, January 12, 2019, 1:00 p.m. at Olympia First Baptist Church, 904 Washington St. SE, Olympia, WA 98501.