WILMA "KRISS" RAY MORRIS

Wilma “Kriss” Ray Morris of La Conner died at home just five days shy of her 97th birthday on Friday, September 16 with family members close by her side.

She was born in her North Bend, Oregon, family home on September 21, 1919 to William and Kerstine Olson, both of whom immigrated from Sweden.

Before relocating to the La Conner area in 2013, she was a resident at Cristwood Senior Living Community in Shoreline and prior to that a longtime resident in the Blue Ridge community in north Seattle.

During World War II, she worked for Western Union telegraphing information to trains sending soldiers and supplies to the Pacific and Asia. She married Robert Ray in 1944, and after the war they moved to Seattle and started their family.

During her years as a wife and mother, she volunteered for many causes, most notably, the Washington chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, NAMI, tirelessly working to bring awareness to many public and private agencies about the devastating challenges which affect families touched by mental illnesses.

Personally, Kriss was deeply concerned about eating healthy and nutritious foods, a lifelong quality, which had been instilled in her by her father, and she was always happy to pass her knowledge on to anyone she believed could benefit from a little less “junk food.”

She had a variety of talents and interests, which she also generously shared with her many friends and extended family. She enjoyed making others laugh, teaching and practicing ballet, painting and creating fine arts pieces and playing music. She was a gifted organist and pianist, happy to demonstrate her enduring musical talents wherever she could, right up to the last few days of her life.

She taught exercise classes at Nathan Hale High School in the 70s and again at the Blue Ridge Clubhouse in the 80s. She was also an avid gardener, and according to some incredulous neighbor reports, she was climbing and pruning her trees when she was well into her 80’s, much to their dismay when they found out how old she really was.

Kriss was preceded in death by her parents, her first husband, Robert L. Ray; second husband, James Morris; her sister, Helen East; her brother, Manfred Olson; and her sister, Anne Marie Curtis.

She is survived by her sons, Calvin D. Ray and his wife, Renae of Spokane; William R. Ray and his wife, Marta of Port Ludlow; daughters Kristine “Kriss” A. Hasslinger and her husband, Richard of La Connor; and Karen M. Ray of Seattle. Kriss also has four adoring grandchildren: David Hasslinger and his wife, Ashleigh of Kirkland; Steve Hasslinger of Woodinville; Robert Hasslinger of Seattle; and Robert “Bobby” Ray of Portland. She also has two wonderful great-grandchildren, Davis and Lola Hasslinger, and several nephews and nieces who will miss her enjoyable and generous spirit.

A graveside service will be held at Acacia Memorial Cemetery in Seattle at 11 a.m. on October 3, followed by a reception. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to NAMI of Western Washington.

Her family would like to thank all the wonderful caregivers, who went above and beyond the call to duty to provide the best care for Mom these last few months. Having her at home this last year would not have been possible without you, and we thank you all for sharing your amazing skills and efforts on her behalf. We also would like to thank all the wonderful firefighters and EMTs that serve our local community for their professional and kind assistance when we put in the call because mom needed a little extra help from time to time.