Lorilee Kay (Nyholm) Paget

April 25, 1944 – February 19, 2021

Lorilee K. Paget

Lorilee was born on April 25, 1944 into the Early Dawn Dairy family in Spokane, Washington to Roy and Marie Nyholm. Three years later, her sister Linda (Nyholm) Gunter was born.  Growing up, Lorilee enjoyed waterskiing and swimming at the family cabin on Twin Lakes in Idaho, roller skating, ice skating, playing the piano, playing games, participating in skits and practical jokes, camping, and spending time with family and friends.  Lorilee was very active in the Youth Group at Downtown Fourth Memorial Church in Spokane, WA and loved attending associated summer and winter camps.

Lorilee attended West Valley High School and graduated from Central Valley High School in Spokane Valley, WA in 1962 where she participated in the CV Bears drill team. She was chosen to attend Girl’s State, a Washington State leadership camp, her junior year of high school. After school, you may have found her cruising with her friends at Ron’s Drive In, the favorite local hangout.

After high school, Lorilee attended Seattle Pacific College (now known as Seattle Pacific University).  She was a member of The Rally Board, served as President of the Falconettes, a women’s service honorary, as well as chaired the Junior-Senior Banquet.

Lorilee graduated in 1966 with a major in Elementary Education and went on to teach 3rd grade at Aldercrest Elementary School in the Shoreline School District for six years.

While at SPC she met and married Joel Paget.  They were married in 1966 until their divorce in 2008. When Lorilee’s first child came along, she retired from teaching to become a homemaker.  She was very active in the lives of her children.  She volunteered with the PTA at every school her children attended often taking leadership roles including the role of President and earning the Golden Acorn Award.

Lorilee was one of the founding members of Westminster Chapel in Bellevue, WA and continued to be an active member for over 50 years.  She was a member of the hospitality committee, taught the 4-year old preschool Sunday School class and volunteered with the high school group for over 30 years becoming a second mom to many teenagers. From 1992 to 2009 she worked part-time as one of the church’s receptionists.  She enjoyed being the gatekeeper and interacting with the pastors, staff and members.   On one occasion she was asked to sing Amazing Grace to an unknown caller and fulfilled the caller’s wish with at least two verses.

One of Lorilee’s greatest gifts was the gift of hospitality, friendship, and building community.  Lorilee was the instigator, planner, and hostess of many events and parties.  She enjoyed bringing people together and nurturing friendships, especially a group of ladies she called her “Sisters” who walked through life with her for 50+ years.  Living on Lake Sammamish for decades, there was no shortage of house guests and visitors.  She always had food on the table and conversation to make everyone feel at home.

Many of us felt she lived her best life later in life, traveling the world with friends, spending time with her grandchildren and family as well as leading a Bible Study at church.   Spending time with her grandkids was one of her greatest joys.  She wanted to be present as their biggest fan for all their games, performances, and events.  She loved spending time with them playing games, making cookies, shopping, going to movies, dining out or traveling to new places.   Being a former educator, she also spent time volunteering in their classrooms.

Lorilee loved to travel internationally.  Inspired by Rick Steves, she started her travels in Europe and just a year or two before Covid shut the world down, she traveled to Costa Rica, Israel and Cuba.  She enjoyed planning trips to various destinations around the world with friends, spending time at least twice a year in Mazatlán with her “Mexico” friends.

The most important value in Lorilee’s life was her faith and relationship with Jesus Christ.  She believed He died for her sins, walked with her through life and has taken her to Heaven.  She believed in the power of prayer.  She would always ask, “Have you prayed about it?”  She would pray for everything from finding a parking spot to travel mercies to a healing from illness.  She believes God cares for us no matter how small the issue.  Her desire is to see her family and friends walk with Jesus as she did.  Her favorite verse was Proverbs 3:5-6 – “Trust in the Lord with all your heart.  Lean not on your own understanding.  In all Thy ways acknowledge Him and He will make your path straight.”

Two of Lorilee’s greatest feats were surviving breast cancer in 2013 and COVID in March 2020.  In her battle with COVID, she miraculously came out of a coma after 10 days on a ventilator.  She spent a month recovering in a rehabilitation hospital only to find out she had Myelodysplastic Syndrome, a type of blood cancer that had now become active in her bone marrow.  The chemo she took to survive breast cancer had the unfortunate side effect of causing the Myelodysplastic Syndrome.  She did not want to die so young.  She fought to beat the cancer with everything offered but the cancer was relentless, and it took her life on February 19, 2021.  She lived each day as though she wasn’t dying until the very end. The blessing of it all was her ability to be the Maid of Honor in one of her best friends’ weddings on January 3, 2021 and spend quality time with her friends and family the week of her death saying her goodbyes.  www.caringbridge.org/lorileepaget

Lorilee was predeceased by her parents, Roy and Marie Nyholm of Spokane, Washington.  She is survived by her sister Linda Gunter (Robert Gunter) of Evanston, Illinois, her daughter, Dené Joubert (Allan Joubert) of Hayden, Idaho, her son, Jeremy Paget (Carrie Paget) of Issaquah, Washington and her grandchildren, Lily Joubert, Nadine Joubert, Jace Paget and Hadley Paget, as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Lorilee loved to give to people in need.  She knew she was blessed and wanted to bless others.  In lieu of flowers, we ask you may consider giving a gift to one of her favorite charities – Westminster Chapel, Seattle Union Gospel Mission, World Vision, Compassion International, Youth for Christ, Young Life, a local missionary or to someone in need.

A memorial service is planned for April 25, 2021 at 3 p.m. PDT.  It will be streamed at www.westminster.org.