ILWACO – Klipsan Beach resident Ola E. Sibley, 93, died peacefully Nov. 9, 2007, in Ilwaco surrounded by her family. One of four children born to Claud and Bytha (Neal) Bruce, she was born March 5, 1914, in Izard County, Ark. She grew up in rural Arkansas where she received her schooling.

She began her working career at an early age, including operating a restaurant. While employed as a waitress she met Arthur Sibley and they were married Feb. 21, 1942 in El Dorado, Mo. When Mr. Sibley completed his duty in the U.S. Army at the end of World War II, she moved with him to Wichita, Kan. There she was a devoted wife and mother and also began working as a wiring specialist at Boeing Aircraft. In 1957 she and her husband were transferred to Boeing’s Seattle operation where she continued her employment until retirement. Her residence was in Federal Way.

Once moving to the Northwest, the couple soon discovered the Long Beach Peninsula which they visited often. Seven years ago they moved here permanently, residing in Ocean Park. Following her husbands death last October she moved to Klipsan Beach where she resided at Golden Sands.

Mrs. Sibley was a long time member of the Church of Christ, most recently attending in Astoria. She enjoyed vegetable and flower gardening, was an avid quilter, and among other activities made sock monkeys for all her grandchildren. She was devoted to her entire family and had helped raise other children as well. Just this past September she traveled back to her birthplace in Arkansas to attend a family reunion.

Survivors include her children LaRoyce Harniss of Monroe, Joyce Alexander of Payton, Colo., Vivian Wattum of Ocean Park, Pat Porter of Mercer Island, Claud Sibley of Siletz, Ore.; 14 grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, two brothers, a sister and two granddaughters.

Funeral service will be held Thursday, Nov. 15, at 10 a.m., at the Chapel of Washington Memorial Park in SeaTac. Graveside service follows at Washington Memorial Park. The family requests memorials in her name to Ocean Beach Hospital Foundation in care of Penttila’s Chapel, P.O. Box 417, Long Beach, WA 98631. The guest book is available at www.penttilaschapel.com.