Laura (Teena) Salme went to be with Jesus while surrounded by her family on Sept. 26, 2024. She was 73.
Teena was born on June 7, 1951, at the Riverview Hospital in Raymond. She graduated from Willapa Valley High School and then studied nursing at Lower Columbia College. She married Gary Salme in 1972. Teena loved her career as a registered nurse, helping so many people while working at the Grays Harbor Community Hospital, Willapa Harbor Hospital, Dr. VonThiele’s Clinic in Raymond and the Pacific County Health Department. She was also a long-time middle/high school Sunday School teacher at the Willapa United Methodist Church. Her favorite things were being with her family and friends, vacationing in sunny destinations (especially Hawaii), playing games that challenged her brain, trolling in the Willapa River and being on their family home in Mill Creek.
Teena loved her family dearly and never hesitated to share with others how wonderful she thought they all were, especially her seven grandchildren. She was such a caring wife, mom, daughter, sister, niece, cousin, auntie, grandma/Mamoo and friend. The incredible impact she had on so many people has been made clear with the outpouring of heartwarming and uplifting messages this past week.
Teena was preceded in death by both of her parents, Les and Doris Wilson.
She is survived by her husband of 52 years, Gary, and their three children, Lesley Hatton, Missy Hahn and Luke Salme; her siblings, Roy Nott and Linda Miller; her seven grandchildren, Hunter, Cole and Emerson Hatton, Cooper and Quin Hahn, and Braeden and Trevin Salme; and bonus-grandson Jacob Little. She also leaves behind many cousins and nieces and nephews that she loved dearly.
Per Teena’s request, in lieu of a service, there will be a gathering for family and friends on Oct. 26 at the Willapa United Methodist Church at 1 p.m. Instead of flowers, the family kindly requests a donation to Seattle Children’s Hospital or another medical facility, which Teena would love.
