Hoquiam resident Julia May Christen, 97, died Sunday, Nov. 19, 2023, at Pacific Care Center in Hoquiam, Washington.
Julia was born on Jan. 26, 1926, in Great Falls, Montana to Herman Carl and May (Luther) Nebel. She grew up in Albright, Montana until the 1st Grade when they moved to Aberdeen, Washington. A couple of years later they moved to Gardner, Washington where she attended Port Townsend High School. When WWII started, she went to work at a local grocery store to help out her family. Following the war, she met a young millworker from Port Ludlow and on Oct. 23, 1949 she married Everett Christen in Gardner, Washington.
Julia and Everett moved to Central Park, Washington in 1952 when he went to work for Northern Pacific Railroad. She stayed at home and took care of the family. They later moved to Aberdeen in ‘62, Axford Prairie in ‘70, and then to Eastern Washington. Following Everett’s retirement from Burlington Northern they returned to the Harbor in 1983. Everett passed away on Aug. 2, 2007 at their home in Aberdeen.
Julia was a member of the 1st Baptist Church in Hoquiam and the American Legion Auxiliary. She never knew a stranger and quickly became grandma to everyone she met, frequently handing out treats to anyone who wanted one. She enjoyed her life at the Hoquiam Manor where she gained another special family including Richard Parks, David Bounds, Beverly Butterfield to name a few. She liked doing crafts, playing cards, dice, bingo, potlucks, spending time with her grandchildren and watching the Mariners and Seahawks. She also enjoyed her numerous outings with her loving caregiver Shelly Snyder.
Julia is survived by numerous grandchildren: James Perry of Hoquiam, Nicole Perry of Hoquiam and Janet and Neil Dayton of Aberdeen, Ronda and Steve Nix, Clay and Kelly Emery, Heidi Clavette of Hoquiam, Aiden Rich of Satsop, along with numerous great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren, and sisters Margaret Smith of Lake Stevens and Marcella Dillon of Kodiak, Alaska. Julia was preceded in death by two brothers: Millton Nebel and Karl Nebel; two sisters: Betty Cunningham and Delores Tegner and her son Christopher Fergus.
In the spring, the family will have a graveside service to lay Julie’s ashes with her mother and father in Port Townsend, Washington. Grandma will be forever missed as she was the real deal; she loved everyone and she had the best hugs around. Her love will be missed, but we will honor her and share her love and welcoming spirit.
Cremation arrangements are entrusted to Twibell’s Fern Hill Funeral Home in Aberdeen, Washington. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Julia Christen, please visit our flower store.
Julia was born on Jan. 26, 1926, in Great Falls, Montana to Herman Carl and May (Luther) Nebel. She grew up in Albright, Montana until the 1st Grade when they moved to Aberdeen, Washington. A couple of years later they moved to Gardner, Washington where she attended Port Townsend High School. When WWII started, she went to work at a local grocery store to help out her family. Following the war, she met a young millworker from Port Ludlow and on Oct. 23, 1949 she married Everett Christen in Gardner, Washington.
Julia and Everett moved to Central Park, Washington in 1952 when he went to work for Northern Pacific Railroad. She stayed at home and took care of the family. They later moved to Aberdeen in ‘62, Axford Prairie in ‘70, and then to Eastern Washington. Following Everett’s retirement from Burlington Northern they returned to the Harbor in 1983. Everett passed away on Aug. 2, 2007 at their home in Aberdeen.
Julia was a member of the 1st Baptist Church in Hoquiam and the American Legion Auxiliary. She never knew a stranger and quickly became grandma to everyone she met, frequently handing out treats to anyone who wanted one. She enjoyed her life at the Hoquiam Manor where she gained another special family including Richard Parks, David Bounds, Beverly Butterfield to name a few. She liked doing crafts, playing cards, dice, bingo, potlucks, spending time with her grandchildren and watching the Mariners and Seahawks. She also enjoyed her numerous outings with her loving caregiver Shelly Snyder.
Julia is survived by numerous grandchildren: James Perry of Hoquiam, Nicole Perry of Hoquiam and Janet and Neil Dayton of Aberdeen, Ronda and Steve Nix, Clay and Kelly Emery, Heidi Clavette of Hoquiam, Aiden Rich of Satsop, along with numerous great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren, and sisters Margaret Smith of Lake Stevens and Marcella Dillon of Kodiak, Alaska. Julia was preceded in death by two brothers: Millton Nebel and Karl Nebel; two sisters: Betty Cunningham and Delores Tegner and her son Christopher Fergus.
In the spring, the family will have a graveside service to lay Julie’s ashes with her mother and father in Port Townsend, Washington. Grandma will be forever missed as she was the real deal; she loved everyone and she had the best hugs around. Her love will be missed, but we will honor her and share her love and welcoming spirit.
Cremation arrangements are entrusted to Twibell’s Fern Hill Funeral Home in Aberdeen, Washington. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Julia Christen, please visit our flower store.
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