Obituary of Nina Elaine May Tuttle
Please share a memory of Nina to include in a keepsake book for family and friends.
Nina was born in White Salmon at the West Klickitat Hospital. Her growing up years were spent in B.Z. Corner, Washington with Mom, Dad, a brother David, and sister Darlene, along with cousins, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and friends. She enjoyed trips to Klickitat spending time with cousins and acquiring the name of Nina May Jenkins. Family vacations included time spent at the beach, huckleberry picking and camping.
After high school graduation she worked for the Enterprise newspaper and married Allen. She operated an in-home day care for children. She worked as curator for the Gorge Heritage Museum and Wine tasting sales for Mont Elise Winery in Bingen. She & Allen spent 3 years in Alaska. She later moved to Portland, divorced, and worked as a nanny, caregiver, and housekeeper. She returned to Bingen and continued with her life filled with family and friends.
She was a board member for the Hood River Community Concerts and Gorge Heritage Museum. Financial secretary of the Christian Women’s club and a member of the Descendants of Employees of Fort Nisqually.
Nina had a special love of music, especially piano, art, cats, and a passion for old cars. She had a lifetime rewarding career caring for children. Many of us are recipients of her cards for birthdays and special occasions often with a note scrawled on every useable space. We also remember her as a bit quirky often getting lost when traveling, being late and being able to carry on lengthy conversations. But mostly we remember her being a special and loving person. She will be greatly missed.
Special acknowledgements from Nina:
Allen- a special thanks for your support and being my friend and the love of my youth.
Special message for Nina’s kids -You know I love you and I am proud of you all! Thank you for the joy of your smiles. The secret of happiness is helping others. Be Happy & don’t forget to Dance.
To my friends, brother and sister and other family- Hopefully I will be around for many years to lie about my age. You all know how much I love you and am thankful for the part you played in my life. Every day is a great adventure.