Elsie M. Noorlag passed from this life to her Heavenly home peacefully on Sept. 15, 2005, at 6 p.m., just 21 days shy of her 100th birthday.
Elsie was born Oct. 6, 1905 in Rochester, N.Y. to her parents, John Youngsman and Caroline Leys Youngsman, who had recently arrived from Amsterdam. She moved with her family to Whidbey Island at the age of four.
As the family grew so did her responsibilities. She was the eldest girl of five siblings and had to run the household for the two week periods their mother was working as a midwife. Living during these days was a struggle but the family sent the kids to church and school and Elsie was able to finish the eight grade. Later, she and her sister, Marie found work at Everett General Hospital and then went to California to pick fruit in Redlands. It was there she met the love of her life, Neal Noorlag and they married and began life working as chauffeur and cook for a couple who wintered there. During the rest of the year they began a flower bulb farm in the Skagit Valley. After 15 years of living this way, they built a home in Oak Harbor in 1940 where they raised their two children.
Elsie and Neal were devote in their Christian faith and were instrumental in establishing the San de Fuca Chapel as an outreach to those in that area. They also founded the Christian Servicemen’s Center for Navy personnel wanting a Christian social environment.
Elsie was known as a great hostess to these men and visiting preachers and missionaries who happened into the area. They began a High School Young Life club for teenagers in their home and a Youth for Christ organization in Oak Harbor. Elsie researched the material for Neal’s sermons, had a vast library of books pertaining to Christian living which she avidly read and then taught the Adult Ladies Class at San de Fuca. They both were members of and active in the Christian Reformed Church in Oak Harbor.
She was a very successful gardener and excelled with roses and the elegant peonies. These, and the iris, tulips and daffodils Neal forced in his greenhouse gave her the ability to make very creative arrangements for church and home, with out-of-season flowers. She had a great eye for color, symmetry and balance and made perfect arrangements in the special vases she used. Her house was always full of flowers. But not all her time was spent decorating but in cleaning the three floors of their home from the attic to the basement, spring and fall. Her house was immaculate and the wonderful aromas coming from the kitchen made everyone hungry, indeed. The attic was full of the history of her family. The linens cleaned every season and neatly put away. Elsie was a wonderful home-maker. She took good care of her family, not only physically but spiritually. She was known as an encourager; a good listener. Her touch was felt by many experiencing problems in their lives.
And finally, she was ready to be with her Lord and Savior.
Elsie was the last of her siblings to die. She was preceded in death by her husband Neal in 1989. She leaves a daughter, Kelly Pook and husband George Folquet, a son, Neal Noorlag Jr., her sister-in-law Martha Youngsman, Elsie’s two grandchildren, David Pook and wife Cindy and Jonathan Pook and wife Camille and five great-grandchildren, Alyssa, Aaron, Sophia, Kendra and Caleb Pook, plus numerous nieces and nephews.
Her strong commitment to her family and ongoing spiritual guidance will be terribly missed but her legacy will live on in the lives of those she touched.
A celebration of Elsie’s life will be held Saturday, Oct. 8, at 1 p.m. in the Christian Reformed Church in Oak Harbor. Remembrances may be made to the Noorlag Memorial Fund at San de Fuca Chapel P.O. Box 991, Coupeville, WA. 98239, Oak Harbor Christian School or World Vision.
