Rayma Birdsall slipped peacefully into eternity Monday morning, February 1, 2016 in the presence of her daughter Kristy-Ann Benson and caregivers at Brookdale Senior Living in Stanwood, WA. She was born to James and Bessie (Pederson) Foye in Monroe, and was a granddaughter of Ariel Foye who homesteaded in the Tualco Valley south of Monroe in 1869. She graduated Monroe High School in 1940, and married Sultan native Richard Birdsall later that year. The young couple lived briefly in Clallam Bay, Monroe, and Morton but spent most of their working life in Seattle. Rayma worked initially for the Veterans Administration, raised children at home, and then developed a career in office management at the University of Washington. The couple retired to the Foye homestead near Monroe in 1977, then relocated to Camano Island in 1990 where she remained in the home she designed until 2015. She enjoyed folk/country music, playing guitar in a high school band called the Tualco Hillbillies. She was a skilled tailor, and a gourmet cook, and enjoyed backpacking and camping with her young family. She and her husband were active with golf clubs in Monroe, Camano Island, and Blythe CA. She served her community with the Camaloch Firejets and the Camano Island Democratic Committee. She was preceded in death by her husband of 72 years, Richard H. Birdsall. Survivors include three children, Michael (Sandra) Birdsall of Maple Valley, WA, Kristy-Ann (Fred) Benson of Grand Forks, BC, and Steven Birdsall of Tacoma, WA, grandchildren Erik (Doris) Benson of Vancouver, BC, Jennifer Benson of Grand Forks, BC, Adam Birdsall of Seattle, WA and Joshua Birdsall of Seattle, WA, and numerous nieces, nephews and great grandchildren. An informal celebration of her life will be held 1-4 pm Saturday, March 12th at the Foye homestead south of Monroe (18529 SR 203). Remembrances may be sent to Camano Island Fire and Rescue, 811 N. Sunrise Blvd, Camano Island, WA 98282.
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