JoVonne (Blank) Lingvall

December 26, 1932 – July 31, 2023

Joyce LaVonne Reandeau was born December 26, 1932 in Geddes, South Dakota. She was the seventh of nine children of Israel and Clara Reandeau. She was most commonly referred to as JoVonne. In the summer of 1941 the family left SD and headed West to Sequim, WA. Shortly after settling in Sequim, Pearl Harbor was bombed. Her mother decided to temporarily move back to SD with some of the younger children for fear of a west coast invasion. Clara and the younger children, including JoVonne returned to Sequim to be reunited with family. The family lived on a small farm. All the children big and small pitched in with chores. JoVonne was a hard worker and strong farm kid. She would pick peas in the summer to earn money. She loved sports which included playing basketball and tennis in H.S. Later a hoop was hung on her own garage so she could play basketball with her children. In her teens she became very ill with strep throat which turned into nephritis. The new miracle drug penicillin saved her life. She was placed on complete bed rest all that summer. This was difficult for an active teen. Fortunately the family and neighbors would entertain and support her for a successful recovery.

JoVonne met Alvin William Blank in High School. After dating for a short time the Korean War had started. She would tease that Alvin proposed to her to avoid the draft. They were married July 1, 1950. Their life started in a little cabin as they built their future home on West Sequim Bay Road. JoVonne worked at the soda fountain and was proud to buy their first chrome kitchen table set. Three children were soon born. Rickey, Christy and Cindy. JoVonne and Alvin loved to dance and they were great partners. Dancing at the Chicken-Coop, Elks Club and chaperoning the HS Pep Dances. Every spring and through the summer you could find JoVonne in her flower beds. She was especially proud of her dahlias. Alvin and JoVonne were married for 31 years until his sudden death on February 11, 1982. The Blank homestead on Sequim Bay had been started in the early 1900s and JoVonne maintained it for her three children until her death.

JoVonne was a faithful devout Catholic. She was one of the longest members of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Sequim for 82 years. More importantly she ensured her children would be raised in her faith. As a Religious Educator she prepared two generations of children for their 1st Holy Communion. Beyond her compassion for children she had a strong devotion to the Blessed Mother. She was a proud member of the Legion of Mary and was an auxiliary member until her death. JoVonne was a Euchrist Minister and was involved with many committees: Altar Society, Women’s Guild, Parish Council and the church bazaar.

On May 18, 1985 JoVonne married her second husband Nils Lingvall from Port Angeles, WA. They were happily married for 28 years until his death on July 21, 2013. JoVonne and Nils enjoyed their winter months in Arizona not only for the weather but to spend time with family. They would hike, play tennis and attend Sunday dinners with family. She was an excellent pinochle player. JoVonne was well known for her delicious apple and marionberry pies and many other desserts. She had a sweet tooth. JoVonne and Nils would attend events not just with the grandchildren but the great grandchildren too. JoVonne was a tremendous help to her family in Arizona loving all those babies.

In 2020 at the age of 88 JoVonne was involved in a tragic accident. JoVonne and her sister Lorraine Anderson were leaving church and hit by a car in the crosswalk. Sadly Lorraine lost her life. JoVonne suffered a broken leg and a concussion with a brain bleed. Other family members witnessed the accident. Amazingly within 3 months JoVonne was able to be once again active as determined to return to her independent life.

JoVonne truly cared for and loved her family. She was an awesome Mother, Grandmother and Great Grandmother. A role model to all. Your Arizona Family loves you Grandma Jo. We will forever cherish you in our memories.

Christy (Blank) Stockman, daughter. Grandchildren: Jennifer JoVonne Contreras (Antonio) and Robin Stockman (Andrea Hernandez). Great Grandchildren: Joshua (Breanna Quinn) , Caleb Harrison, Antonio Jr., Samual Contreras, Andre, Kassie Marie, Ayden and Amare Stockman and Elyssa Hernandez.

Other immediate family members: Rickey Blank of Blaine, son. Cindy Reandeau of Sequim, daughter. Grandchildren: Erika Linnell of Seattle, Jessica Milloy (Richard) of Springfield, VA, Katie and Alina Blank of Vancouver B.C. and Nikki Botnen (Donald) of Sequim. Great Grandchildren: Aiden and Evelyn Milloy and Miller Botnen.

Phyllis Ann (Folk) Little

December 25, 1934 – September 21, 2023

Photo courtesy of Phyllis Little family / Phyllis Little

Phyllis Ann Little of Sequim, Washington, passed away to be with the Lord for eternity on September 21, 2023, surrounded by her loving family. She was 88.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Friday, October 20, 2023, at 11:00 AM at St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church, located at 121 E. Maple Street in Sequim, Washington. A Recitation of the Rosary will take place at 10:30. A reception will immediately follow the Mass. Phyllis will be laid to rest with her husband at Mount Angeles Memorial Park in Port Angeles.

Phyllis was born Christmas Day 1934 in Yakima, Washington, the oldest of three children to Ben and Mary Jane (Desgrossellier) Folk. In her younger years, she spent many hours helping her mother take care of her siblings while her father was out of town working as a long-haul truck driver. She also worked alongside her mother at a cherry cannery in Yakima.

Phyllis loved to ice skate and attend her high school events and dances at St. Joseph’s Academy, where she devoted her time and focus on her catholic faith. After graduating high school, she had intentions of becoming a Nun, but her high school sweetheart, Jack Little swept her off her feet, which led to a loving marriage of 69 years and a family of eight children, 13 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren.

Phyllis was not only a wife and mother. She was a grandmother, great grandmother, sister, sister in-law, aunt, friend, a family leader, a homemaker, housekeeper and a teacher of the Catholic faith. She was a long-time member of Queen of Angels Catholic Church in Port Angeles and St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church in Sequim, where she had been a Eucharistic Minister and at one time a choir member.

She spent years as a member of the Elks Club, where she and her husband Jack and their friends loved to go dancing. Phyllis was a devoted mother always signing up to be classroom mom and field trip chaperone while all of her eight children attended Queen of Angels School.

She enjoyed luncheons with friends, playing in local tennis tournaments, travels to other countries with her husband, listening to the piano, singing Christmas carols, annual overnight shopping trips to Silverdale with her daughters, watching countless hours of Gonzaga, Notre Dame and Mariners games with her sons and being our number one fan at her children’s sporting events. She looked forward to taking her grandkids for an afternoon at the Sunland community pool and holding tea parties with her granddaughters under the gazebo at her home.

She learned to be an acrylic painter of landscaped mountains and trees from her lifelong friend Pat Scarano. She had a knack for real estate and would go for long walks every single weekday on her way to morning mass stopping at every house for sale along the way. She knew every listing price, the number of bedrooms and how long it had been on the market.

Our family will always remember the way our mother prayed for everyone and lived a caring and friendly life. How her home was decorated with ornate pieces of gifts and pictures of the family. Her famous blackberry pies at holiday celebrations and cherry cream pies on our birthdays and open arms at family gatherings. We will miss her singing and dancing around the house which she is now doing in Heaven with her husband, her parents, brother and granddaughters. We know she is starting the party and is the brightest shining Angel in Heaven.

Phyllis leaves behind her four sons Darrell Little, Greg (Brenda) Little, Bruce (Heather) Little, and Gary Little; four daughters Joyce (Bill) Saas, Cheryl (John) Morgan, Lori (Mike Hardy) Little and Lisa Jorgensen; 11 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren and her sister Janie (Steve) Richardson.

She was preceded in death by both parents, her husband of 69 years, Jack Little; her brother Bernie Folk and granddaughters Christy Morgan and Lynda Loewen.

Memorial contributions in Phyllis’ name may be made to Queen of Angels School.

Sequim Valley Funeral Chapel, (360) 683-5242, is honored to serve the family. Please visit our online register book at sequimvalleychapel.com to leave treasured memories for the family.

Photo courtesy of Marinho Alves Correia family/ Marinho Alves Correia

Marinho Alves Correia

November 11, 1931- October 10, 2023

Marinho Alves Correia (91), previously a long-time Sequim resident, died on October 10, 2023 in Bremerton, Washington where he lived the last decade of his long, amazing life.

Marinho was born on November 11, 1931 in Recife, Brazil to Enacio Alves and Luiza Silvia Correia. He was orphaned by the time he was 13 and spent time in an orphanage before being raised by a wealthy doctor.

Marinho met the love of his life, Cecilia S. Correia 80 years ago, when they were 12 years old. They married on April 8, 1958 and raised 3 children, Marino, Maurice, and Vicki.

Marinho played futebol (soccer) semi-professionally in Brazil before being recruited to work on the Disney film, The Jungle Cat in 1958. That same year, Walt Disney convinced Marinho to come to America and work on more animal films. Marinho and Cecilia moved to Sequim and continued working with the animals from The Olympic Game Farm. Marinho trained cougars (Charlie, The Lonesome Cougar) and bears (Grizzly Adams) among a host of other animals for movies, television and live theater. The Correia home was often full of baby animals. Marinho and Cecilia cared for wolves, cougars, bears, foxes, minks among many other exotic baby animals for the Game Farm.

Marinho continued to play soccer recreationally after settling in Sequim, as well as coaching men’s and youth teams. He was an avid pool player and won several tournament trophies. He was also one of the finest armchair quarterbacks the Seahawks will ever know. Marinho was well-known for his “magic tricks” which he delighted in performing for anyone he met. He enjoyed painting and gardening and he always looked for an excuse to build or mend a fence. Above all else, he valued his family and spending time together.

Marinho is survived by his wife of 65 years, Cecilia; children Marino (Stephanie), Maurice (Jo) and Vicki (Daniel); grandchildren Krysta, Carrie (T.J.), Christina, Terri, Noah and Cassidy; and great-grandchildren Hayden, Andrew, Aaron, Amara, Amiel, Sincere, Zion and Messiah.

Visitation is Thursday, October 19, 2023 at Sequim Valley Chapel (108 W Alder St., Sequim WA 98382) at 11am followed by funeral services at 12:00pm. Interment will follow at Sequim View Cemetery (1505 Sequim-Dungeness Way) at 1pm.