Elizabeth Ann (West) Folsom, 81, of Colfax, WA, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, November 22, 2023 in her winter home in Mesa, AZ, where her and her husband, Barry were "snowbirds" for 20+ years. Liz (as she was known to family & friends) was the youngest of 2 children, born in Colfax, WA, January 3, 1942 to Everett & Mayme (Ellis) West.  Liz grew up with her older brother, Howard, in Palouse, WA & graduated from Palouse High School in 1960. She went on to get her Accounting degree at Kinman Business College then worked at the Washington State University bookstore in Pullman, WA, and later at a bank.

She met the love of her life, Barry at the Safeway Corporate Christmas Party in 1966. He proposed to her on Valentine's Day, February 14th, 1967 & they were married on June 24, 1967. Together they had three children:  Judith (Folsom) Coll, Barry Jr., and Denise (Folsom) Greisen.

Barry  career with Safeway took them to Moscow, ID, where Liz continued to work at the WSU campus in Pullman, then Colville, WA, where they bought their first home, then Walla Walla, WA, and back to Colfax, WA where they settled in and purchased the Coast to Coast Hardware store together in 1973.  They loved that owning that business gave them the opportunity to travel to various cities with the company. Fun fact: Liz enjoyed riding motorcycles with Barry for a brief time during their early years together.

Liz was blessed to be able travel with her husband to Hawaii twice (she loved Maui) as well as going on cruises through the Caribbean & Alaska. She loved "snowbirding" to Mesa, AZ (like her parents did) where she & Barry traveled to get away from the cold winters in Colfax. She was very active in the Val Vista Park in Mesa where she made lots of friends through her hobbies. Liz had a passion for quilting and was proud to donate her blankets to " A New Leaf Charity" whose work is to help veterans and others suffering from homelessness & domestic violence. She also enjoyed creating stained glass tables for her family and friends. Crocheting was another skill she cherished, making blankets, pot holders, baby blankets, and bibs for her beloved children and grandchildren. In recent years, Liz found fulfillment and lots of joy in volunteering at the Thrifty Grandmother's shop located in Colfax, WA.

Liz is survived by her husband Barry, children Barry Jr.  & Denise (Folsom) Greisen, 3 nieces, 8 grandchildren, 7 great-grandchildren, 5 step-grandchildren and 5 step-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, brother Howard and daughter Judith (Folsom) Coll.

Liz's kind and creative spirit will be deeply missed by her family, friends, and all those whose lives she touched.  The family suggests memorial gifts in her memory be to the Colfax Thrifty Grandmother's Shop (send donations to 118 N Main Street, Colfax, WA 99111), A New Leaf Charity or the American Cancer Society in honor of her oldest daughter Judy (Folsom) Coll who lost her battle to cancer.

There will be a Memorial Service in Mesa, AZ, at the Val Vista Park Ballroom January 28, 2024 7pm and a Celebration of Life in Colfax June 2024, exact date, time and place TBD.