Della May Higbee was born March 7, 1924, in Seattle. She raised her family in California. In 1968 Della moved to Oak Harbor. She worked civil service for the U.S. Navy, retiring in June 1986. Della passed away Dec. 18, 2009, in Everett.

Della loved the outdoors and being in the beauty of nature. She especially enjoyed the Deception Pass area and went there often with her family. She did her very best to teach her children how to live honestly and how to love God.

She is survived by seven children: Ruth Wantz (Robert), Karen Harris, Patricia Hardin (David), Linda Graves (Dwayne), Esther Hardesty (Donald), Paul Higbee (Dana), and Deborah Ellison (Douglas). Della was a grandmother to 20, great grandmother to 23, and great-great grandmother to one.

Funeral services will be held Friday, Jan. 8, at 11 a.m., Whidbey Memorial, Oak Harbor.