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Elizabeth Murray Armstrong
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Born in Barcaldine, Queensland, Australia on Apr. 21, 1923
Departed on Jul. 7, 2009 and resided in Burien, WA.
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| Visitation: |
No Visitation
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| Committal Ceremony: |
Thursday, Jul. 30, 2009
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| Cemetery: |
Tahoma National Cemetery
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Please click on the links above for locations, times, maps, and directions.
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Elizabeth "Liz" Armstrong
Realtor, Adventurer, and "Aussie"
From Tara, her father's sheep station in Queensland, Australia, to a life in America following World War II, Elizabeth Murray Armstrong, known by her friends and family both as "Liz" and "Betty," knew and loved people. Prior to retiring from John L. Scott Realty, her career in real estate had spanned almost four decades. During those years she not only raised four children but also found time to pursue her love of the beach and of travel.
From becoming a fledgling Realtor in the early 1960s, to becoming a co-owner of Highline Realty, to joining the John L. Scott Company, Liz loved the real estate business and most importantly, her clients. Her unlimited energy, her zest to try something new, and her ability to help people made her the success that she became. She cared for her clients and they were her friends.
But that was how Liz lived her life, in real estate and in her family. "Mom has always been an adventurer," said Tony, oldest of Liz' four children. "Anyone who could take a boat across the Pacific at the end of World War II, leave her native land and family with a one-year old on her hip to join her husband and start a new life in America, is an adventurer at heart."
In Australia, Liz had met and married an American flyer from Georgia, Bill or "Pete" Armstrong, as he was known. Their search for a good place to raise a family landed them in Seattle in 1949. As Bob, the next son and Boeing Engineer put it, "Mom was very independent. On their second trip from Australia through Seattle, the family got off the boat and stayed. Now that's pretty independent considering her closest relatives were 10, 000 miles away."
Liz and Bill made their home in Seahurst, living first in a beach cottage accessible by a natural trail, and then moving up on the "hill" where Liz lived for almost 40 years, less two years in Arizona in the late 1950s - yet another great adventure. As Mark, the third in line and a consulting engineer in Oregon put it, "Mom would pack us in the back of the car and we would take a drive to see something new, to learn something we didn't know. It didn't matter if times were tough or not, Mom had us organized and off we would go. "
Betty was a strong, determined and practical person who worked hard for what she wanted. She enjoyed having fun, and had a strong love for her children, her husband, her grand- and her great- grandchildren. Margaret, Liz' last child and only daughter, who also works at Boeing, remembers the day Liz received her first of many commission checks. "It was hanging on a string over the kitchen table. She was so proud of earning that money." Margaret added.
Liz was born Elizabeth Murray Illing on April 21, 1923 in Barcaldine, Queensland, Australia. She was the third of five children born to Frederick and Phyllis Illing. Liz attended boarding school until World War II, when she joined other "Aussies" working on the war effort, and where she met Bill. Liz passed away on Tuesday, July 7, 2009 at Carol's Country Cottage in Federal Way, Washington, where she was receiving loving care.
Liz is survived by her brother, Robert Illing of Sydney, Australia; her four children, Tony, Robert, Mark and his wife Melanie, and Margaret; granddaughters Dara, Jenny, Allison, Beth and Kimberly; grandsons David, Ian and Jonathan; and great-grandchildren Jake, Max and Tylor. Liz will also be missed by numerous nephews and nieces in Australia as well as Mary Lee and Martha Ann in America.
Liz will be interred at Tahoma National Cemetery, 18600 SE 240th St., Kent, WA 98042 (425-413-9614) on Thursday, July 30th at 10 am. That afternoon, a celebration of Liz' life will be held at the Tukwila Community Center, 12424 42nd Ave. S., Tukwila, WA 98168 (206-768-2822), from 4 to 6 pm. Messages to the family may be posted on Liz' Guestbook at www.bonneywatson.com.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Alzheimer's Association (www.alzwa.org).
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