The life journey of Iva Lee Watts Duskin, 87, came to a peaceful end on Sept. 30 in Tumwater at Olympics West Retirement Inn.
Ms. Duskin was born Nov. 20, 1921 in Wilbur, Washington. She spent most of her childhood in Wilbur, with some time in the Dayton-Waitsburg area. Ms. Duskin was very close and devoted to her dad, Ted Watts. She attended high school at Holy Names Academy in Spokane. Then she went on to Washington State College and was a member of Kappa Delta sorority. Ms. Duskin met her love, Joe Fred Duskin, in Pullman, which began a Cougar tradition for the Duskins. They were married Jan. 1, 1942 until Fred's death in 1973.
World War II and the Army Air Corps had them traveling before settling on Magnolia in Seattle to operate their business, Blue Ribbon Foods, and to raise their children, Jeff and Doris Ann. Many happy times were spent at the little family cabin on Lake Goodwin. Her son, Jeff, died tragically in a skydiving accident in Alaska in 1978.
Ms. Duskin worked as the office manager of Equitable of Iowa Life Insurance Co., retiring in 1982. After retirement, Ms. Duskin delighted in traveling.
Over the years she also enjoyed reading, bridge, crossword puzzles, bowling, red roses, swimming, cello, knitting, chocolate, making "fantabulous" pie crusts and gravy, good parties and jokes, spending time with friends and family.
In 2000 Ms. Duskin moved to Olympia to be near her family. She made many new friends and enjoyed bantering and teasing with the loving and caring staff at Olympics West. She was intelligent, composed, always generous, had strength, courage and dignity, and kept us laughing with her "one-liners" and unique sense of humor right to the very end. Mom - Grams will be so missed by her family.
Ms. Duskin is survived by her daughter and son-in-law Doris & Nick Lippert of Olympia; granddaughters Shelley (Scott) Seaman and Alison (Zach) Morgan of Olympia; five great grandchildren: Madeline and Nathan Seaman and Ashlyn, Kellen and Avery Morgan; sister Lindarae Watts of Spokane; daughter-in-law Sharon Duskin of Fairbanks, Alaska. Ms. Duskin was preceded in death by her husband Fred, son Jeff and her "number two son" Gary Henson.
Honoring Ms. Duskin's request, there will be no public funeral or memorial service. Memorial donations may be made to Seattle Children's Hospital or a charity of your choice.[[In-content Ad]]