Lynda Ann Blain

Lynda Ann Blain died Nov. 10 at Martha & Mary in Poulsbo, Wash., after a five-year battle with colon cancer. She was surrounded by family and love almost continuously while on hospice care her final months. 

Lynda was born June 27, 1945, in Los Angeles, to James Marshall Arnold and Irene Tilly Hughes. Her parents divorced when she was young and her stepfather, John Killingsworth, was the father she knew most of her life. She met her husband-to-be, Wil Blain, in high school geometry class. They were married in 1964.

Lynda graduated from Mission Bay High School in 1963. Wil and Lynda moved their family to Bainbridge Island in 1977.

Lynda’s greatest joys revolved around family, including her four children, 7 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. As a young mother in San Diego, she was very involved in all her children’s sports and youth activities, attending Little League games, hosting Cub Scout meetings and serving as a Brownie den mother. Throughout their elementary, middle school and high school years, hardly a week went by when she wasn’t driving carpools, watching their games or attending swim meets. Lynda often juggled parenting with her career, working variously as a bank teller, running her own in-home child care business and working as a real estate agent. As her children grew and had children of their own, she loved to spend time with family, especially during the holidays and on family summer vacation weeks.

Lynda also enjoyed knitting, sewing, reading and working on all variety of craft projects. She was renowned for her custom-sewn Halloween costumes. And most everyone in her extended family has at least one crocheted blanket, scarf, sweater or fleece blanket she made for them. She also enjoyed camping and road trips with family. 

Lynda was preceded in death by her husband Wil, her parents James and Irene, and her stepfather John. Wil and Lynda were married for 45 years.

She is survived by her son Michael Blain; daughter Shelley Reimer and son-in-law David; daughter Kimberly Huff and son-in-law Loren; son Wesley Blain; grandchildren, Leo and Sadie Blain, Ashley and Jaden Cole, Djemilah Birnie, Jordan Reimer and wife Janae, and Emily Umstead and husband Matt; great-grandchildren Amirah Birnie, Judah and Justus Reimer, and Evelyn Umstead; sister-in-law Wanda Taylor and husband Dave; nieces Kate Anderson and Anita Mason; and nephew Chuck Taylor.

Due to COVID and Washington state pandemic guidelines, we are unfortunately unable to hold an in-person service. Friends and family are invited to join us for an online Zoom celebration of Lynda’s life at 2pm PST on Sunday, Nov. 29. For details and login info for the Zoom service, please see the link listed under the events section of this tribute just below or email citizenblain@gmail.com. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance (https://www.seattlecca.org)