Obituary of Virginia Lawrence Lynch

Virginia Lawrence “Laurie” Lynch passed away January 12, 2024, in Olympia, Washington.  She was born in Seattle, Washington, on August 6, 1948, to Tom and Norma Lynch, joining her older sister, Katie.  Shortly after Laurie was born, the Lynch family moved to Olympia, Washington, where she spent her entire life.  Laurie’s family grew when little brother, Tommy, was born in 1950 and again in 1956 when Betsy was born.

Laurie and her siblings spent many hours together and loved one another deeply. 

Laurie played numerous neighborhood games on Percival Street and hours in the water and playing in the sand at the Bay with cousins, Bill, Claudia, Mary and Jimmy Hartley. 

Laurie attended St. Michael and Garfield Grade Schools, Jefferson Junior High, Olympia High School, Western Washington College (University), and earned her Masters at Pacific Lutheran University. Laurie always claimed she loved her fourth grade teacher, who taught her to read and developed in Laurie a love of learning and teaching.  Laurie taught fourth grade at Madison Elementary School in Olympia for 37 years.  Special friends and colleagues, Bob Currey and Renato Jones, taught, played and created reading curriculum under the moniker CURLYJO (CUR for Currey, LY for Lynch and JO for Jones). 

Laurie received numerous honors, including Catholic Youth Organization’s Girl of the Month, and Miss Merry Christmas while in high school.  She made numerous friends along the way, many whom remained friends throughout her life. Laurie didn’t have a lot of strangers in her life; she had family, friends, and students, all who loved, respected and learned from her. 

Laurie was a lifelong member of St. Michael Parish.

Laurie was kind, generous, humble, humorous, clever, imaginative, playful, attentive, respectful, inclusive and so much more than mere words can ever express; but if you asked Laurie, she would say she was “just Laurie.”

Laurie is preceded in death by her parents, Tom and Norma Lynch; her brother, Tommy Lynch; her sister, Betsy DeLay; her brother-in-law, Barrie Maxey; and Katie’s and Barrie’s son, Scott.

She is survived by her sister, Katie Lynch Maxey; brother-in-law, Michael Delay; sister-in-law, Vicki Lynch Kimball; nephews, David Lynch (wife, Jenn and family), Jeff Lynch (wife, Amy and girls), Adam Lynch (wife, Molly and boys), Paul Lynch (wife, Aja and daughter), Sean Driscoll (husband, James); and niece Mo (husband, Trail and sons).  She is also survived by numerous friends, colleagues, and students.  Special lifelong friends include Marilyn Nickerson Gauntlett, Mary Rinear, Caroline McDowell, Maria Gibbons, and way too many others to name here. 

Laurie reminds us we will all be together again someday, and that in the meantime to live well, laugh often and love always.

A funeral mass will be held Monday, February 5, 2024, 12:00 p.m. at St. Michael Catholic Church, 1208 11^th Ave. SE, Olympia, WA 98501.  Reception to follow.

In lieu of flowers, Laurie requests consideration of a gift to Mary Bridge Childrens Hospital, 317 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Tacoma, WA 98405 or online by clicking HERE; or Seattle Children’s Hospital, 4800 Sand Point Way, Seattle, WA 98105 or online by clicking HERE.  Both are institutions that have shown great service to both specific children she has loved and to all of the beloved children in our community.

Please leave condolences or share memories and photos on the Tribute Wall to the left.            

 

 

 

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Virginia Lynch, please visit Tribute Store