Mary Virgina Elshin Born in Sedalia, Missouri to Martha Francis Estes and Arthur Ricketts Scott on July 25, 1916; passed away September 4th, 2006. She was the third child in the family, and was preceded in death by her two brothers, James and Victor Scott. Mary Virginia, known to her close friends as Pashie, attended both the University of Missouri and Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri. She met the love of her life, Alexander George Elshin, during WWII while he was stationed at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. They married and celebrated sixty years of marriage; the union of which produced two children, Alexandra Nishiki and Martha Graef. The couple resided most of their married life in Seattle, Washington, but moved to Tacoma, Washington in later years to be closer to their grandchildren Katherine and Nicholas Graef. On this, the second anniversary of our mother's passing, we can't help but reflect on the stories of her childhood antics that entertained us as we grew up. One that stuck with us all these years was her response to a competition among childhood friends to see who could remember the farthest back in their young past. Not to be outdone, when mother's turn came, she solemnly stated that she could remember when God told her "Mary Virginia, sit up and let me put your eyes in." We take great comfort in knowing that she is back in His good Hands and that He has given her fresh new eyes and a healthy body to fill with her marvelous spirit once again. And that she and our father, the love of her life, are cutting up a rug at some great cosmic block party. Pub Date: 9/4/2008 Tacoma News Tribune