Obituary of Echo Pauline Essen

No visitation Echo P. Essen, 89, of Olympia,Washington, became one of the Lord’s angels on December 24, 2006. Echo Pauline Ahee Essen was born in Appanose County, Iowa on February 5, 1917 at the farm of Carl and Ethyl Ahee, her parents. She moved to Turlock, California in 1920 to live with her maternal grandparents, Charles and Clara Roberts on the death of her father. She graduated from Hawthorne Elementary, Turlock High School in 1935, and Saint Frances School of Nursing in San Francisco in 1938. In 1942 she married Frederick L. Essen who was in the United States Army. She practiced her profession working for the Pierce County Health Department in Tacoma, Washington, in Pediatrics at Fort George G. Meade Army Hospital in Maryland, and as school nurse at Fort Hood Army Base in Texas. Echo was raised in the Methodist Church and served in many different communities remaining an active and loyal member all her life. She taught Sunday school, was Epworth League leader in San Francisco, California, Sunday School Superintendent, sang in the choir, was a member and past president of United Methodist Women, and active in both Girl and Boy Scouts. Along with her husband, she joined the Wally Byam Caravan Club and enjoyed the caravans and rallies with their Airstream Friends traveling the United States, Canada, and Mexico. She was a 30 year resident of the Lacey Land Yacht Harbor. They also toured Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and China. She was an enthusiastic gardener and enjoyed flower arranging. She provided many a flower arrangement for church, Airstream rallies, and friends. She also enjoyed doing needlecraft something she learned early from her grandmother and mother. She enjoyed the arts, and painted pictures at one point. She is survived by her children, Frederick Lambart Essen, Barbara Essen, and Allen Essen (Marcia); three grandchildren, Sean (Molli), Andrew (Jennifer), and Echo Asha; and five great grandchildren; brother, Carl Ahee (Lorraine); and sister, Clara Belle Henninger (Arleigh). A memorial service will be held at 1:00 o’clock, Friday, January 5, 2007 at St. Andrews United Methodist Church, 540 School St. SE, Olympia, Washington.