Sybil Jean (Ray) Burgess, age 97, went home to be with her Lord on Wednesday, April 2, 2025 at the Tri-State Hospital in Clarkston, Washington.  She was born in Palouse, WA on October 14, 1927 to William Leonard and Lucy Helen (Shroeder) Ray.

As a young child, she and her family moved to a place deep in the woods in Noxon, Montana.  There she grew up with one brother, Alfred and five sisters, Vera, Dorothy, Hazel, Pauline and Ginny.  It was during the depression; somehow her mom and dad kept them fed and clothed.  Sybil often mentions how good her mom's pot of beans and fresh bread were.  She was amazed at the mittens she made from old sweaters from a thrift barrel.  Her dad built their log house and invented their garden watering system.

On October 19, 1945, Sybil married the love of her life, Robert Theodore Burgess, in Spokane, WA.  Once married, Ted and Sybil returned to Skagit County where they made their home.  They were married for 74 years before he passed on March 7, 2019.  They enjoyed being together and their love for each other is hard to match.  Ted and Sybil loved to fish, camp, hunt, watch wild animals and travel together.  They visited several states and national parks, but their favorite was a long trip they took to Alaska.  On several camping trips, they took their grandson, Troy, with them.  She often spoke of the wonderful time the three had together.

Sybil worked as a strawberry field boss when her kids' picked berries.  Then she trimmed strawberry plants for Sakuma Brothers.  Finally, she worked at National Fruit Canning Company retiring there.  Mostly though, she was a great wife and mother and very much loved it.

Sybil was a very kind, caring and giving person.  She loved to garden and canned or froze a lot of fruits and vegetables.  She loved to bake but had a special passion for baking bread.  Seeing all the loaves neatly lined up cooling made her proud.  She also helped in the barn, most of the time took care of the yard, put up wallpaper, built things like a cute black and white rocking horse she made for her young son.  She came up with ingenious ideas to make life easier and seldom "wasted" money.  Sybil loved to sew and made most of her daughters' clothes and even doll clothes.  Once she earned a blue ribbon for a red and white dress she made for the fair.  In later years, she started quilting and made a lot of quilts of all sizes and shapes.  These quilts have blessed the lives of the family and friends that have received one of her quilts.

Sybil is survived by her son, Robert L. (Sheila [Holtrop]) Burgess of Malaga, WA; daughter, Karen A. (Bob) Cooper of Lewiston, Idaho; sister, Ginny Shafer of Gig Harbor, WA; grandson, Troy J Burgess of Arlington, WA; granddaughter, Rebecca L. Morton of Marysville, WA; six great grandkids, Jacob Burgess, Abagail Bland, Hailey, Katie, Hunter and Wyatt Morton; two great great-grandkids, Ryker and Evelyn Bland.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert 'Ted' Burgess; one brother and four sisters.

Due to her age and eyesight, her family moved her to Lewiston, Idaho to live with her daughter and son-in-law the last two years of her life.  She lived a full life, even voting when she was 97 years old.  There are no words to express how greatly she will be missed.  Mom, we love you.

A Graveside Service will be held at 2:00, Friday, April 25, 2025 at the Union Cemetery, Sedro-Woolley, by Lemley Chapel.  Share your memories of Sybil and sign the online guest register.