Obituary of Earlene Dunn

Lola Earlene Dunn, 96, passed away November 28, 2023, in Olympia, Washington.  She was born May 18, 1927, to Robert Earl Manley and Marguerite Manley in Yuma, Colorado. She resided in the Olympia/Tumwater area for 77 years.

 

Earlene graduated from high school, which was located in the basement of Northwest Nazarene College. She attended Western Union School in Santa Cruz, California, and graduated when she was 19 years old.

 

She immediately started working for Western Union in Corvalis, Oregon, and moved on to several other locations before arriving in Olympia as a Western Union agent.  Eventually, she worked as a bank operations officer for many years, and at Tumwater High School.

 

Earlene married Robert C. Dunn, known by all as “Bob,” on June 27, 1948, in the chapel at Northwest Nazarene College.  She loved being a wife and mother and was very proud of her family.  In the 1990s, she and Bob opened the Cookie Cottage in Olympia’s South Sound area, making young and old alike delighted with their favorite cookies. After this venture, they retired.

 

Earlene was kind, loving, generous and steadfast.  She was a member of the Nazarene Church throughout her life and volunteered her services for many functions and activities over the years. She loved reading her Bible and was a prayer warrior.

 

Among Earlene’s interests and hobbies was crocheting. She loved to crochet blankets for her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren; the family lovingly called the blankets “Big Hugs.” Also, she and Bob enjoyed many road trips throughout the U.S. and built three of their own homes.

 

Earlene is survived by her sons, Robert E. Dunn of Port Lincoln, Australia, and his wife, Connie Dunn, and James F. Dunn of Olympia, and his wife, Mary Kaye Dunn; his daughters, Debra J. Dunn of Olympia, and Carole Ann Andrews of Olympia, and her husband, Dan Andrews; six grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.  She was predeceased by her husband, Bob; and granddaughter, Rachel N. (Andrews) McCrary.

 

Earlene’s final message to her family: “I have lived a wonderful life.  Looking back, I can see God’s hand in my life even when I did not realize it at the time.  He kept me from real harm in my teen years, was with me during my adult years, and keeps me in my senior years.  I pray that each one of you will find peace with Him in your life.  There is no real life without Him.  With much love, Mom.”

 

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