Ella May Hoffman, 77, a longtime Oak Harbor resident who resided in Kennewick, Wash., and Surprise, Ariz., passed away on May 11, 2007, in Kennewick.

Ella was born in Eureka, Mont., on Oct. 14, 1929 to parents Hilie and Delbert Harvey. After living in Eureka, Havre, and Kalispell, Mont., she moved with her stepfather, George Kirkpatrick and family to Everett, Bremerton, and Anacortes, and in 1941, finally settled in Oak Harbor. She graduated from Oak Harbor High School in 1948. Ella was the student body secretary/treasurer, cheerleader, and princess of the “Turkey Festival” during her senior year.

In August 1948, she married Alden V. Hoffman. They lived and raised a family in Oak Harbor. They celebrated their 58th wedding anniversary on Aug. 29, 2006. She worked for NAS Whidbey in Supply, Public Works, and the Dental Department for 34 years, until her retirement in 1984. Ella was a former member of the Oak Harbor Emblem Club 450, Island County Hospital Guild, and a Charter Member of the Whidbey Golf and Country Club. Her hobbies were sewing and crocheting, gardening, bowling, and golf. She was passionate in her enjoyment of family and friends, sports, and travel. Her family was always the most important thing to her, and she saw every grandchild graduate no matter how far the trip.

Ella is survived by her husband, Al, of Kennewick; sisters Agnes Sizemore of Oak Harbor and Marie Clarkston of Spokane; son, Keith and wife Linda of Richland; daughters Karen Byrd of Little Rock, Ark., and Carol Hoffman of Oak Harbor; five grandchildren, David, Daniel, Kyle, Heather and Shawn; and five great grandchildren, Jacob, Jada, Christina, Lindsey, and Preston.

A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday, May 17, at Burley Funeral Chapel, 30 SE Ely St. Oak Harbor, with a reception immediately following at the chapel. Pastor David Lura of the First United Methodist Church of Oak Harbor will officiate. Memorial contributions may be made in Ella’s name to Hospice at the Chaplaincy, 2108 W. Entiat Pl., Kennewick, WA 99336, or Hospice of Arizona, 19702 North Routzahn Way, Sun City West, Ariz. 85375.

Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Burley Funeral Chapel, Oak Harbor.