Saera Mae Eads, a longtime resident of La Conner, Washington, died at home on June 30, 2020 of natural causes. She was 97.

The first child of parents Emil C. Wuest and Anna Mae Overton, Saera Mae was born in Seattle, Washington. Her family moved often during her school years, as her father’s work as a blacksmith took them to many different states which she often referred to as “Adventures.”

She studied art at the University of Washington and Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle. She met John Stickels and they married. They lived in Seattle where they owned and operated two gift and photography stores. Moving to Mercer Island in 1962, John started developing real estate. They eventually settled on Lopez Island, where they built an A-Frame cabin near Iceberg Point along with their three children; Meredith, Michael and Marti. John passed away in 1964 from leukemia. She worked as a cook at the Lopez school (yes, there was only 1), eventually obtaining her real estate/broker license and going to work at Washington House Realtors, where she had started as their secretary.

In 1969, she married Gerald Eads who was also in real estate. Together they became the founding members of the Lopez Village Corporation, which developed the land to become what is now known as Lopez Village.

She and Jerry moved to Sedona, Arizona, in 1974. Saera Mae built another thriving real estate business while working at Arizona House Realtors.

In retirement, Saera Mae and Jerry loved traveling the country in their RV, seeing the sites and exploring new places. They even exchanged homes with other families to vacation in foreign countries. During one of their motorhome trips in 1986 they witnessed the tragic explosion of the Challenger at Kennedy Space Center, Cape Canaveral, Florida.

She enjoyed the arts, theatre, literature, reading, traveling, her orchids and researching her family’s ancestry. Saera Mae served for years as a beloved docent at the Museum of Northwest Art (MoNA) in La Conner. Her deep love of art and sharp wit endeared her to staff and volunteers alike. She was given the coveted Trustees’ Award in 2011. An inspiration to many – her selfless nature and heart of gold, energy, wonderful sense of humor and love of life was known to all, especially her children and family whom she greatly cherished. Affectionately known as “Big G”, she spent countless hours with her biological and “unofficially” adopted great grandkids teaching them to read, write, color, paint pictures or by telling them a story.

Saera Mae is survived by her daughters: Meredith Anne Kilwine (Stickels), Marti Beth Brown (Stickels), step-son Gerald (Jerry) “Butch” Eads II; grandson, Michael Stickels Jr. ; granddaughters: Kelly Lynn Bowden (Bigley), Katie Kimball Stickels, Ashley Nicole Archuleta (Fisher), as well as six great grandchildren and 1 great-great grandchild.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husbands: John Stickels and Gerald Eads; her brother Thomas Wuest, son Michael Stickels, Sr and grandson Marcus Stickels.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Children’s Hospital of Seattle.

To share memories of Saera, please sign the online guestbook at https://www.evanschapel.com/obits.