Lynnette Mae Anderson Obituary (2025)

Lynnette Mae Anderson was born on February 16, 1948, in Spokane, Washington, to Anton "Tony" Schaaf and Marjourie Mae Schaaf (Williams). She was the third of four children. At just three days old, her family moved to Mountain View, California, before returning to Washington five years later when her father accepted a job in Pasco. Lynnette spent part of her childhood living with an aunt in Wichita, Kansas, before completing her education in Catholic schools and graduating from Pasco High School. She later moved to Walla Walla, where she had her first child, Terry Dennis (Rich Jensen), and worked at the Black Angus restaurant with her sister, Sheila. Lynnette babysat her nieces, Jamie Lynn and Debbie, until moving back to Pasco, where she welcomed her second child, Melissa Kay (Missy/Rhonda). She then moved to Everett, WA, and got married to Bob. While in Everett, she had her third child named Shawnaday Marie. Papa came and moved them back to Pasco. There she met Ivory Evans Jr and had her fourth child, named Shantrell Lynne. In the early 1980s, Lynnette attended Columbia Basin College, earning an associate degree in interior design. She even designed blueprints for her dream home, that she always wanted to build, which was a reflection of her creativity. In the early 1990s, she moved to Yakima, WA, where life presented challenges that she met with strength and resilience. One of her hardest battles was with cancer--where she wanted to fight until the end, which she did! Lynnette was deeply devoted to her relationship with God. Her faith was her foundation, and it gave her strength through life's ups and downs. She always believed in the power of prayer and found comfort and peace in her spiritual life. She loved to travel and made several trips to Hawaii, where she especially enjoyed swimming--her favorite thing to do on vacations. Whether it was the beach, a hotel pool, or a river, Lynnette found joy and peace in the water. In 2015, she visited her cousin in Arizona, and in 2018, she spent time with her daughter Missy and family in Oklahoma City. In 2021, she visited her son Rich (Terry) and family in Oregon. She also cherished girls' trips with her daughters Shawnaday and Shantrell, including recent visits to Klamath Falls, Oregon, and Spokane, WA. In June 2023, she traveled to Kennewick, WA, to celebrate her grandson Anthoni's graduation at a party hosted by her daughter Shawnaday and her granddaughter LaKyma. She enjoyed a wonderful day filled with family, a barbecue, and one of her favorite activities--swimming. In September, she took a special trip to Walla Walla with her daughter Shantrell, son-in-law Ricky, and grandson D'Angelo. They visited her brother Bruce, where they enjoyed his homemade huckleberry pancakes with the fresh huckleberries he handpicked--a day full of laughter and cherished memories. Her final trip was in October 2024 to the Tri-Cities, where she spent the day with Bruce, enjoying his smoked ribs and seeing his new home, along with Shantrell and her family. Lynnette was a devoted Seattle Seahawks fan and loved watching game shows, The Young and the Restless, and Law & Order. She enjoyed crocheting, especially making baby blankets, and crafted several blankets that were raffled off for the Southeast Saints Grid Kids Football team. Lynnette also loved to make outfits for her granddaughter LaSeante' when she was little. Her famous dip was a must-have at family gatherings, and she always made extra for everyone to take home. She made holidays magical, decorating every corner of her home and making sure there were plenty of Easter eggs for the kids. Christmas was her favorite, and her home was always full of lights, ornaments, and holiday cheer. She also had a special birthday tradition for her grandkids and great-grandkids--every year, she would take each of them out to Red Robin for a free burger lunch, making sure their special day was celebrated. Lynnette was her grandkids' and great-grandkids' biggest supporter, attending countless soccer games, t-ball, wrestling matches, football, basketball, volleyball, cheerleading, and track events. She rarely missed birthdays, BBQs, or graduations, and she volunteered many hours helping with fundraisers. She welcomed many children into her home over the years, making them feel like family. She loved spending time on her balcony tending to her beautiful plants and chatting with her neighbor. Her daily visits with her grandson D'Angelo were some of her happiest times--they gardened together and made home-cooked meals. She enjoyed her lunch/dinner dates with her grandson Ivory and his girlfriend Naylonii, always loving when they brought her cod and clam chowder. Once she discovered Instacart and DoorDash, she kept her grandkids TaShaila and Tino busy helping her with orders and reloading her cards. If she needed something off a high shelf, she'd call her grandson Nathaniel. She had a special bond with her son-in-law Ricky, whom she lovingly called her "Adult babysitter." Her last Christmas was spent surrounded by family. She was so excited to host Christmas at her place and was overjoyed when her daughter, grand kids and great-grandkids from Tri-Cities came to visit, along with all of her family from Yakima. Her home was decorated with so much Christmas cheer. In December 2024, Lynnette suffered a broken femur and was taken to UW Montlake Hospital in Seattle, WA, where she underwent surgery. During her stay, she was diagnosed with stage 4 small cell lung cancer, a battle she faced with unwavering strength. She spent 40 days at UW Montlake before transferring to a rehab center in Yakima, where she spent two weeks recovering. In her final days, she was placed on comfort care, spending 11 days surrounded by love before she was called home to be with her mother, father, brother, and sister. Lynnette is preceded in death by her parents, Anton and Marjourie; her brother, Robert "Bob"; her sister, Sheila; and her great-grandson, Elijah. She is survived by her children: Rich Jensen (Stephanie) of Oregon, Missy Thomas (Beshaun) of Oklahoma, Shawnaday Spearman of Kennewick, and Shantrell Sams (Enrique) of Yakima. She leaves behind 23 grandchildren, including six from Yakima--LaSeante' Kimble, Ivory Evans-Kimble, TaShaila Villa, Tino Villa, Nathaniel Villa, and D'Angelo Villa--who were especially close to her. She also has 44 great-grandchildren, with number 45 due in October 2025, her brother Bruce Schaaf of Pasco, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and extended family members. Lynnette was dearly loved and will be deeply missed. Though our family chain is broken and nothing seems the same, she leaves behind a legacy of love, and as God calls us one by one, the chain will link again. Shaw & Sons Funeral Home is caring for the family. Memories and condolences may be shared at www.shawandsons.com.