Elizabeth Irons

Born Polly Ann Hoekstra in Tacoma, WA on April 15, 1936, Elizabeth Ann Irons, loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother passed away June 15, 2022. Charles and Martena Hess adopted her (and brother Ben) on January 29, 1937 and welcomed her to a caring home in Yakima. She graduated from Yakima High School in 1954 and remained friends with several of her classmates until her death. She attended Whitworth College and Deaconess School of Nursing in Spokane. On a blind date she met a West Virginia flyboy named Richard Irons. They married at First Christian Church, Yakima on June 29, 1957. Her nursing education was put on hold while she followed her husband during his Air Force service. They returned to Yakima to start a family and she completed her nursing education at Yakima Valley Community College. Her nursing career included Memorial Hospital, Yakima County Health, Yakima Convalescent and Living Care. After being diagnosed with MS, she continued to work, be involved in church, fraternal organizations and travel. Liz liked sewing particularly for her children and grandchildren. Her parents left her an assortment of dolls and she took pleasure in remaking old doll dresses while proudly showing off her collection. She enjoyed camping and family cross country adventures. Later travels would find Dick and Liz fifth wheeling to AZ for the winters until purchasing a home in Mesa, AZ. She was an active member of First Christian Church, Yakima then moved to Englewood Christian Church. For her 80th birthday, mom, having been adopted, received cards from her recently discovered surviving siblings many whom were residing, unbeknownst to her, in Washington state. What followed were new relationships and family reunions much to her surprise, pleasure and amazement. Liz was preceded in death by her parents and brother Ben. She is survived by her husband Richard “Dick”, daughters Christie (Gary) Kramer of Beaverton, OR; Debbie (Larry) Southern of Sunnyside, WA and Scott Irons of Yakima. Grandchildren Aaron, Heidi (Corey), Nicole, Sarah, Stephanie (Joe) and Sedona. Great grandchildren Deacon and Bode. A Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, July 16, 2022 at 3pm at Englewood Christian Church, 511 N 44th Ave, Yakima, WA (indoor masking, please). In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Shriners Hospital for Children, 911 W. 5th Ave. Spokane WA 99204 or Englewood Christian Church, 511 N 44th Ave, Yakima, WA. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Elizabeth Irons, please visit our flower store.