Dick and Jean Sleight

On December 7, 1940, Richard Riddell Sleight married Velma Jean Moody in Portland, Oregon. 
On December 7, 2010, they celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary.


 Dick, middle son Randy, Judy (wife of oldest son Don), and Jean

Richard R. Sleight 

March 3, 1919 - April 5, 2011

On Tuesday, March 1, 2011, two days short of his 92 birthday, Dick suffered a major stroke which sent him to Swedish (Cherry Hill) Hospital in Seattle.

March 8th Update:

Dick is not able to receive nutrition and, while he remains at Swedish today, plans include transferring him to a facility in West Seattle later this week.  He is receiving 'comfort only' care at this point.  He got the chocolate ice cream that he had long requested but discovered that he could not eat it.

March 9th:

Last night I (Dick L.) found dad sleeping.  He woke, looked towards me and squeezed my hand when I asked him to.  Then he went back to sleep.

March 10th:

Yesterday, Randy was able too feed dad some apple sauce and Boost nutritional supplement drink.  We are amazed that he can eat something.  Daughter Laurie and Dick L.'s wife Nancy visited him this morning and he was able to make very short responses.  Randy fed him again this afternoon.

March 11th:

Dick is being transferred from Swedish hospital to Life Care Center of West Seattle today.  He is aware of the devastating earthquake and tsunami that struck his beloved Japan at 9:46 p.m. our time yesterday.

 

March 14th:

Laurie flies back to Maryland tomorrow, so we took this opportunity to meet with various staff at Life Care Center.  Laurie, Randy, and Dick L. attended the meetings and visited dad.  Later, granddaughter Annie and Dick's wife Nancy visited "Grandpa Dick" while he was being evaluated by Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy staff.  (Today is Dick L. and Nancy's 30th wedding anniversary.)

There is a high probability that dad will aspirate while drinking his meals, and this would put him at risk of aspiration pneumonia.

When told by Dick L. that his wife had passed away the day before, he seemed agitated and tried to speak but could not produce intelligible words.  His right hand still gave a firm handshake.  In speaking with Annie, grandpa made a surprising and clear statement. "Nancy Sinatra."  He followed this up with the name of one of her songs, the title song from the 1967 James Bond movie You Only Live Twice.  He could not clearly say much more  ― so perhaps he had a message to share in this song.

You only live twice or so it seems,
One life for yourself and one for your dreams.
 
You drift through the years and life seems tame,
Till one dream appears and love is its name.

      And love is a stranger who'll beckon you on,
      Don't think of the danger or the stranger is gone.

This dream is for you, so pay the price.
Make one dream come true, you only live twice.
 

March 18th:

Randy feeds Dad each morning.  Don observed that Randy is so patient in this task. Dad managed to say, "Hi Don." this morning ─ quite like Jean had said at the hospital.

March 26th:

Randy has had more success communicating with dad.  He has also  worked with dad to see if he can sign his initials or mark an X on his income taxes.  He continues to drink.  He is more alert in the morning.  On one recent visit with Dick L, dad did not respond, but was deep in sleep.   He has now been sixteen days at Life Care Center of West Seattle.

April 4th

Last night at 11:30 p.m., Life Care Center called to tell us that dad had experienced serious breathing problems.  They'd increased his oxygen, suctioned him, and given him morphine.  Today it was clear that he'd certainly taken a turn for the worst.  The nurse reported that he has a bladder infection for which he is receiving antibiotics.  His closed eyes have a redness about the lids, his good hand (the right) jerks seemingly randomly.  He appears more 'out of it,' and did not wake when visited. 

Randy reports that in previous days he's occasionally said, "Beam me up, Scotty." 

April 5th

Richard Riddell Sleight passed on at 8:15 a.m. this morning.  His son Randy was holding his hand.  It was a peaceful passing.

Plans are for a military funeral at Tahoma National Cemetery in Kent, Washington.  Dick was a veteran of World War II, indeed one of "the greatest generation."

Jean M. Sleight 

June 14, 1920 - March 13, 2011

On Friday, March 4, 2011, Jean was admitted to Evergreen Hospital in Kirkland.  Tests showing dehydration and low potassium led to a diagnosis of kidney failure.

March 8th Update:

Jean has declined steadily since Saturday and is receiving 'comfort only' care at this point as she is unable to eat or drink.  It is expected that she will remain one more day at Evergreen and, if needed, will be transfer to a skilled nursing facility in Kirkland tomorrow.

March 9th:

Mom said to daughter Laurie (from Maryland) and to one of the staff here, "I have four children."  She is amazingly more "present" today.  Arrangements to keep mom at Evergreen for a few more days were made this morning.  She enjoyed 3" of a candy cane!  She loves peppermint!  She's responding well to questions, as long as the answers are, "O.K., yup," or "ow!"

March 10th:

Mom's breathing was often down to four breaths per minute during the night.  She has had the constant presence of one or more of her four children.  Laurie and Dick spent the night with her.  She had not spoken since yesterday afternoon.  However, this morning she said, "Hello Don" to her eldest, and "No" when asked if she was experiencing any pain.  She spoke to son-in-law Tom on the cell phone ― or at least listened.

March 13th:

Jean Moody Sleight passed on at 7:21 a.m. this morning.  Her daughter Laurie was holding her hand while son (and Laurie's twin) Dick L. stood on the other side of her bed.  It was a very peaceful passing and a very special time.  We are confident that Jean's trust in Jesus has been recognized and rewarded.

To be published in the West Seattle Herald, April 1, 2011. 

Long time West Seattle resident Jean Moody Sleight, age 90, passed away on Sunday, March 13, at Evergreen Hospital in Kirkland.

Jean was born Velma Jean Moody to Clyde and Mary Moody on June 14, 1920 in LaCrosse, Washington.  Her dearest friends were older sister Carol and younger brother Clyde.  During her youth, their family moved often, with her father a salesman and later district manager for John Deere.  Jean attended nineteen different schools in Washington, Montana, Idaho, California, and Oregon, concluding at Albany College of Oregon.

Jean married Richard Riddell Sleight in Portland, Oregon, on December 7, 1940.  They moved to Seattle where Dick worked for the Boeing Company.  During World War II and through the 1950’s, Jean also worked for Boeing, first as a “Rosie the Riveter,” and later as an expediter. 

Jean added to the baby boom, with her four children born in 1942 (Don), 1953 (Randy), and 1955 (twins Laurie and Dick).  She was dedicated to her children.  She was Cub Scout den mother, Girl Scout leader, and mother of two Eagle Scouts. She provided logistics and transportation for family vacations, ski trips, and countless athletic events.  For many years she was a senior leader at Fauntleroy YMCA’s Camp Colman.  PTA president at both Gatewood Elementary and West Seattle High School, she received the Golden Acorn Award. 

She enjoyed all kinds of needlework, was an avid reader, and loved travel. Even with declining health in recent years, she continued her travels to time-share condominiums and to the homes of her children.

Jean is survived by her husband of 70 years, her four children, nine grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren.  The memorial service for this beloved mother and gentle servant will be on Sunday, April 3, at 2:00 p.m., at Fauntleroy Community Church where she worshiped her Lord and served her neighbors.