Eloise “Gina” Herrick

Eloise “Gina” Herrick

Eloise “Gina” Herrick passed March 15, 2021, with her daughter by her side in Silverdale, Washington.

Eloise was born in Hinckley, Minnesota, in 1935 (during the Great Depression) to Ivy Mae Walter and Harry B. DeLand. The family moved to Palmer, Alaska, in 1937 as one of the Matanuska Colonist families. They traveled by rail across the United States and by Alaska Steamship Line to Seward. Grandma Walter was sure she would never see them again, as Alaska might as well have been on Mars! The family moved to Juneau in 1944. Although Eloise loved Palmer, she soon grew to love Juneau as her new home.

Eloise met her husband, Duane Herrick, in Juneau and they married in 1960. At the time, Duane worked for IBM. Eloise was a Secretary at the Corp of Engineers in Anchorage (Elemendorf AFB) and in various Commissioner’s Offices in Juneau: Education, Revenue, the Director of the Alaska State Ferry System and the State District Attorney. The last 12 years of Eloise’s career was as the Supervisor of Excise Tax, Department of Revenue.

Eloise and Duane spent many winter breaks in Hawaii, enjoying all islands, but mostly Maui. Eloise was a gifted knitter, seamstress, quilter, gardener, cook, and host to her family and friends. Many years of square dancing were enjoyed, as well as visiting with her five grandchildren as much as possible.

Upon retirement, Duane and Eloise moved to St. George, Utah, and traveled extensively to places in the Southwest and California, especially San Francisco and San Diego. Both enjoyed traveling throughout Canada. Travel to New Zealand, Australia, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Britain, and many trips up and down the Alaska Highway were enjoyed in retirement. Duane and Eloise relocated to Sequim, Washington, where she enjoyed the remainder of her retirement.

Eloise was preceded in death by her parents; infant son, Robert (Bobby); brother, Frank DeLand; and nephews, Michael DeLand and Allen Herrick.

Eloise is survived by her husband, Duane Herrick; sister, Eileen (Dennis) Franson; children, Frank (Jean) Herrick and Laurel White; grandchildren, Phillip (Inga) White, Nicholas White, Benjamin Herrick, Calvin Herrick and Elizabeth Herrick; nieces Kathryn (Richard) Hanway, Irene (Feleti) Tupou, and Marlene Deland; and nephew Stanley Deland.

Condolences may be sent to Duane Herrick, 1430 Park View Lane #101, Port Angeles WA 98363. Donations in her memory may be made to the Peninsula Friends of Animals, P.O. Box 404, Sequim WA 98382.