On Wednesday, Dec. 22, 2010, Ethel Jay Remington, 94, of East Harbor Road in Freeland, died unexpectedly at Whidbey General Hospital in Coupeville.

Ethel was born Aug. 4, 1916 in Blachly, Ore., the eldest child of Ben and Virrel Jay. In 1931, she met Charliejohn Remington, whom she married on Oct. 31. Her first job was at Parker’s chicken ranch, which also was where they first lived.

The couple eventually built their own house, a one-room cabin near Lake Creek, and between 1933 and 1938 they had three children; Barbara Jean, Roland Dean and Carol Joyce.

In 1945, Charliejohn and Ethel moved to Edmonds. The family lived in a large tent for more than a year while their house was built. Her life experience of making the best of situations, learned while surviving the Great Depression, was a key factor for her family during this time. Never one to sit idle, in addition to her demands at home, Ethel worked at Children’s Hospital in Seattle.

Charliejohn died in 1967 following a lengthy illness. Ethel remained in the Edmonds home, which became known as “Grandma’s House.” Here she hosted many family reunions and holiday gatherings. Also, several of her grandchildren lived with her during the next few years.

Since she missed out on earning a high school diploma, in 1968 Ethel decided to earn her GED. At the same time she also became a Tupperware distributor, a job she continued for nearly seven years.

In 1976, Ethel moved from Edmonds to Freeland. In the 34 years since, Ethel became a well-known figure on South Whidbey, where she attended the Langley United Methodist Church, volunteered in the South Whidbey Historical Society, and helped at the Senior Center in Bayview. In July 2005, she was featured in the South Whidbey Record as a Hometown Hero.

Throughout her life, there were two things Ethel truly enjoyed: her family and gardening. At both her Edmonds and Freeland homes, Ethel was famous for her flower and vegetable gardens, and brown chicken eggs. She also had an affinity for genealogy and spent years researching and compiling family history, which she self-published as a book in 1983 entitled “Solomon Remington, His Ancestors and Descendents.”

Ethel was the matriarch of the family and she led by example, setting as her creed personal responsibility and hard work. She never asked others to do more than she would do herself, and she was always there for anyone who needed a handout or a hand up. She also had a great sense of humor and laughed often. Her selflessness, courage and determination, plus her compassion and faith in God and humankind in general, will be remembered as Ethel’s badge of honor.

Ethel was preceded in death by her parents, husband Charliejohn, and daughter Barbara Jean Kessell. She is survived by her brother Spencer Harrington of Eugene, Ore. and his wife Maxine; son Roland Remington and daughter Carol Flynn, both of Freeland; and numerous grand-, great-grand-, and great-great-grandchildren.

A memorial to honor the life of Ethel Remington will take place at 2 p.m. Saturday, May 14, at Langley United Methodist Church.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made in Ethel’s name to Senior Services of Island County Meals on Wheels program or Langley United Methodist Church.