Louise D. Abshire was born in Altadena, California in 1944 to Grace and Sheldon Hunt. After a fulfilling life with many family and friends who shared her love, Louise fought a courageous battle against a rare form of Parkinson’s Disease, and ultimately died on May 1, 2021.
After leaving Southern California in 1978, Louise relocated with her family to Port Hadlock, Washington, where she worked for both the Chimacum and Port Townsend school districts, assisting with special needs children. She later pursued her creative passions and opened a successful beauty salon in Port Hadlock. She enjoyed being an active part of the community and made many lasting friendships along the way.
Louise was a loving mother who devoted an abundance of energy to her children, both at home and in their classrooms. Educated in the arts, Louise nurtured and encouraged incorporating creativity into all aspects of her family’s lives. She was an accomplished seamstress who also enjoyed needlework, knitting, crocheting, and jewelry-making. Over the years she donated hand-made puppets to elementary school classrooms for children to enjoy. She proudly displayed her award-winning work in the Jefferson County Fair and in local craft bazaars. Likewise, she took pleasure in gardening and collecting coins, stamps, and buttons. Her latest artistic endeavor was illustrating her husband, David Abshire’s, first children’s book, “True Stories by Grandpa,” in 2015.
Louise led an active life coaching her kids’ sports teams, playing on local softball teams herself, and logging an impressive number of miles walked annually. She “trained” for half marathons and made a game out of collecting coins and “treasures” along the way. She then generously donated all the money she found each year to charity.
Louise is preceded in death by her father, Sheldon, and her mother, Grace. She also endured the death of her previous husbands, Frederick Edward Watson, of 17 years, and David Eston Abshire, of 35 years. She is lovingly remembered by six children, Tina (Watson) Thomas, Jenny (Watson) Carpentier, Samuel Joseph Watson, Gillian (Abshire) Gregory, Marc Abshire, and Diane (Abshire) Salguero. She will be dearly missed by 13 grandchildren: Chloe, Audrey, Gillian, Grant, Kayla, Sophia, Ethan, Miguel, Jacob, Gabe, Grace, Marco, and Bradán.
The family is celebrating her life privately.
