Nellie “Honey”’ Bode, a longtime resident of Pacific County, Wash., passed away peacefully in her sleep at home on Nov. 9, 2016, at age 97 of natural causes.

Born March 28, 1919 in South Bend, Wash., Nellie (Oliver) was raised on a farm on the Willapa River in East Raymond by her mother Beta (Sondell) Oliver (d.1956) along with her brother Bill Oliver and half-brothers George Matson, Ernie Matson, Charles Matson and half-sister Esther (Matson) Workington who all preceded her in death. Nellie’s father William Oliver died when Nellie was a small child in a logging accident. She married the love of her life, Ivan Max Bode in 1945 in Astoria, Ore. They were married 36 yrs. at his death in 1981.

Nellie was quite a character who enjoyed practical jokes, she was full of love and laughter. She loved to work, animals, gardening, dancing, singing and traveling. In her teens, Nellie had a budding entrepreneurial spirit for real estate, buying her first property on the county Courthouse steps at 17yrs old. She was well known in Raymond and South Bend area for her industriousness and hard work. She became a member of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Raymond in 1965.

She lived many places including Chinook, Wash., Aberdeen, Wash., Sutherlin, Ore., Santa Barbara, Calif., making full circle back to reside in her hometown of Raymond.

She leaves behind five children, Dale Bode (Nadja) of Craig, Alaska, Sharon Utting of Raymond, Wash., Richard Bode (Sandy) of Fernley, Nev., William Bode (Mabel) of Bolivia, and Mary Irwin (Tim) of Raymond, Wash., 28 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren.

Nellie preferred people to celebrate life and at her request, no services will be held. She will be buried at Fern Hill Cemetery in Menlo, Wash. Arrangements are in care of Stoller’s Mortuary in Raymond. You may visit www.StollersMortuary.com to leave condolences for the family.