LeAnna Mathews passed away on Feb. 15, 2022, one week after her 63rd birthday. LeAnna was born to Raymond and Lucy Mathews on February 6, 1959. She spent her pre-teen years growing up in Slidell, LA. In 1974, her father was offered a job at Boeing, with the option of working in either Kansas or Seattle. LeAnna researched the two places and it was clear which place had more to offer.
So off to Seattle the family went. They bought a charming farm house with lots of land near Dash Point State Park in Federal Way and settled in. That house ended up being LeAnna’s home for her entire life.
LeAnna loved animals, so having the land to accommodate them was fabulous. She filled the property up with birds, dogs, cats, goats and a horse. Even a Boa Constrictor made its way in for awhile. The animals changed over the years, but were always plentiful and well taken care of. One of LeAnna’s special talents was her ability to write. She had a gift to compose short stories and poetry on a whim. They were usually about events happening in her life and were always articulate, descriptive and very entertaining. They left you with a glimpse into her active mind, and always waiting for more.
LeAnna was a Jill of all Trades. Landscaping and outdoor projects became her favorites because of her love of the outdoors. She was extraordinarily creative and had the ability to complete projects, designing tools and making plans on the go. What looked liked would be a mundane chore would turn into a delightful afternoon because of her stories and wit. She loved working with her customers and making them happy with the job that she did.
She had style and flair. Her customers buying firewood at her house could sometimes see a woman in the backyard, with flying red hair, wearing a summer dress, riding on a zip-line. LeAnna loved her neighborhood and all of her friends and acquaintances that she had made over the years. She was a unique lady who could light up a room with her presence. She will be greatly missed by all of her family, friends and customers.
LeAnna was predeceased by her parents, her sister Vivian Reilly and her brother Roger Mathews. She is survived by her daughter Shannon Stephens, her sons Paul Anderson and Donny Gotterbarm and her granddaughter Chloe Doros.
In LeAnna’s memory, she loved being respectful and caring to others. If you could pass forward a kindly act to another person in memory of her, she would be delighted with that.
