Sharon Poole (Bloch)

Linda Michelle Lewin came to Bothell in the fourth grade and lived in my neighborhood.

  She married in our junior year to Richard Phares and they had three children.  Since he was in the military they lived out of country for a number of years.  That I know of they lived in Okinawa and Germany.

  Eventually when they returned Linda went to beauty school and was a hairdresser while her children were in school.  She was an instructor at several beauty schools in the Seattle area.

  Linda died from pancreatic cancer in 2007.  She had at the time of her death six grandchildren.  Linda had a great sence of humor and we laughed a lot together.  I really miss her.

Sincerely her friend,

Sharon

Jim Rettig

I lived next door to Linda as did Sharon Poole.  We had a terrific neighborhood filled with fun and laughter, and Linda only added to the joy and excitement we all experinced for so many years.  She always had a smile on her face, was positive about the future, and was a committed Christian.  I visited her shortly before she died, and she was an inspiration to me and others as she showed her courage, faith and confidence in the Lord as she neared death.   

Who can forget all the fun we had growing up together?  We played softball in Koontz' and Linda's backyards.  We rode our bikes up and down the street.  We tramped through the wetlands in the backyards together.  We slept outside in the summer and watched for shooting stars.  We camped in the woods, played Kick-the-Can and Ollie-Ollie whatever!  We went to Sunday School together and also Confirmation Class.  We had a ball.  We couldn't have asked for a more fun and secure place to grow up.  And Linda was an integral and important part of that. 

Jim Rettig