Priscilla Diane Praxel
1939 – 2025
In the season of budding leaves, nesting birds, buzzing bees, & the sweet scent of lilacs your sparkling, cornflower blue eyes closed one last time. Our hearts are sad & yet filled with gratitude that we are the kids blessed to call you mom.
The memories you shared of your childhood foretold the woman that we grew up with. Stories of breaking your arm sledding during grade school lunch & not telling anyone until dinnertime, picking wild berries with your brother Ed & selling them door-to-door, in middle school riding the bus downtown alone for sewing classes, deer hunting with your dad, and your best friend coercing you into joining her in the Miss Spokane Valley pageant …. And SURPRISE…YOU were the one crowned!
As kids growing up, you were an independent, strong, & creative mom. You painted your white horse with black stripes so we could enter a “zebra” into the Ritzville pet parade. Our childhood days were free to roam & explore & discover (sometimes with a disastrous result!) Our friends loved having you as a boy & girl scout leader. You instilled in us manners, respect, and life skills; “Anything worth doing is worth doing right!”, “Be on-time”, “Treat others the way you want to be treated”.
During our teen years, we witnessed your immense determination to fulfill your dream of becoming a nurse. It wasn’t an easy journey; you commuted to school, worked multiple jobs, & managed the home. Your nursing abilities & big heart touched those you cared for in the critical care unit and emergency room. Legendary on the night shift was your work ethic, skilled hands, compassion & that famous swinging ponytail!
You had a gift for creating a beautiful, artistic & cozy home environment from simple materials. With the hum of your faithful 1960 Singer sewing machine, stitching thousands of miles of thread, you created beautiful clothing, quilts, crafts, and over 500 doll outfits. Skilled in the kitchen as well, you baked pies, cakes, cinnamon rolls, and thousands of cookies. Ah yes; those famous cut-out cookies that brought delight to special occasions & tastebuds far & wide…mmmm!
The greatest gift of all was your unconditional love for three kids who chose divergent, non-traditional, & sometimes rocky paths in life. You picked us up when we scraped our knees, spanked our butts when we needed it, encouraged us to be ourselves and always… always loved us “as is”.
As with the ocean waves that never cease, the love we share Mom, is in our hearts forever.
Elizabeth, Edward, & Mark
PS…. Brownie, Rex, Coyote Max, Eddie, Cherokee, Levi, Lumi, Alice, Maddie, Ginger Beer, Cali & Missy wish for more stray puppies to find homes filled with love & care like they did with you. In your memory, Yakima Valley Pet Rescue, is working towards making their wish come true.