Agnes Marie "Squeak" Thoreson: August 25, 1921 – April 2, 2012

March 9, 2012 

Molly Makena is one day old in this photograph.

Grandma Squeak and Aunt Sandra where the first people to visit her in the hospital.

Some Enchanted Evening from South Pacific, was my grandparent's "song."
It was played at both of their memorial services.

The poem below was one of my grandparents' favorites.  It was also read at both of their services.

Crossing the Bar

Sunset and evening star,

and one clear call for me!

And may there be no moaning of the bar,

when I put out to sea.

But such a tide as moving seems asleep,

too full for sound or foam.

When that which drew from out the boundless deep

turns again home.

Twilight and evening bell,

and after that the dark!

And may there be no sadness or farewell

when I embark.

For tho’ from out our bourn of Time and Place

the flood may bear me far.

I hope to see my pilot face to face

when I have crossed the bar.

Alfred Lord Tennyson

(1809-1892)

I love this photograph from Ry and my wedding in 2010.  Our wedding photographer later chose it as her favorite image of 2010. (here's a link to that post)

Here's a copy of the obituary that ran in the Tacoma News Tribune.

Agnes Marie “Squeak” Thoreson August 25, 1921—April 2, 2012 Age 90 of Tacoma passed away on Monday April 2, 2012. She will be interned with her husband in a private ceremony for family and close friends at Tahoma National Cemetery in Kent (18600 SE 240th St) on Friday, April 6 at 11:15 A.M. followed by a Memorial Service at United Lutheran Church at 1 p.m. in Tacoma (1231 South 76th St.). Agnes spent her early years in Carpenter and Burns, Wyoming, graduating Valedictorian from Burns High School and going on to attend Heiman Business College in Sheridan, Wyoming. She was working for Missouri River Division when she met her husband, Merlin “Thor” Thoreson who was stationed at Ft. Warren, Wyoming. They were married 63 years until his death on February 15, 2006. They had eight daughters and one son. Squeak and Merlin were stationed in many places, including England, Japan and Germany before he retired from the Air Force. Agnes then worked for the City of Tacoma Auditor’s Office where she made many friends until her retirement in 1972. She was an avid golfer with the Ft. Lewis Women’s Club and loved to ski and hike. She also enjoyed making Norwegian crafts and performed with the Daughter’s of Norway Leikaring Dance Group, touring Nevada and California. Squeak also loved traveling with her husband, Thor, and their children. And she enjoyed family gatherings where she would read and sing with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Squeak had a wonderful sense of humor and authored a book about her childhood titled “Barefoot and Happy.”

Squeak was proceeded in death by her husband, Merlin Thoreson, parents Dolly and Squire Black, brother Arlie Black and sisters Helen (Robert) Felton and Margaret (Don) Paden. She is survived by her (daughters) Sandra M. Pratt, Loni A. Thoreson, Cheryl M. Tatom, Kristin J. Sasseen, Kari L. Murphy (Doug), Patricia L. Burnett, Michelle L. Thoreson, Tracy L. Schock (Steve), (son) Douglas W. Thoreson (Courtney), (grandchildren) Jeremiah W. Meacham (Anna), Lynette M. Lampson (Robert), Dexter S. Meacham (Shauna), Deanna M. Allen (James), Erin Tatom, Aymee Winchell (Brian), Eric Beug, Brittany Beug, Sara Oppler (Jason), Emily Murphy (Ryan Martin), Stacy Carbone, Nikita Burnett, Stephanie Schock, Cameron and Bryce Thoreson, (great-grandchildren) Nick Delaney, Hayley Meacham, Dolly Lampson, Alexander and Jacob Meacham, Theodore and Sydney Allen, Morrigain and Michaela Winchell, Danika Oppler and Molly Martin. She is also survived by many adored nieces and nephews as well as her dear lifelong friends, Lucille Goudie, Marcey Wernofsky, Shirley Mayers and Elene Emerson.