Jerre Waite died peacefully at her apartment at the Madison on Bainbridge Island on Aug. 13, 2014. She was surrounded by family and friends and her beloved cat, George.

Jerre was born in 1925 in La Grande, Oregon where she lived until moving to Corvalis, Oregon to attend Oregon State University, excelling as a student and earning her degree in Micro/Biology. It was there that she met and married her husband, William Wallace Waite, a student and World War II veteran.

Following their marriage and graduations, they moved to Seattle where Bill went to work as an aerospace engineer at Boeing, retiring after 35 years. During that time they raised their family, Claudia Mckinstry and Willian Sutherlin Waite.

The family enjoyed camping, boating and fishing. Jerre was an avid bridge player, reader, gardener and cook. Jerre thoroughly enjoyed her family and was a dear friend of many throughout her life, always interested in conversation.

Bill and Jerre were married for almost 60 years and after raising their family they were able to travel extensively.

Jerre, a loving wife, mother, great-grandmother and friend is survived by her daughter Claudia McKinstry of Bainbridge Island, and her son Bill Waite of Fairbanks, Alaska; her five grandchildren, Matthew McKinstry, Joy Smallwood, and Kristi Brumbaugh, Eva Burnum, and Eva Waite and 10 great-grandchildren.

Jerre will be missed greatly by all and remembered for her love, charm, wit and charismatic personality.