A Loving Tribute To
Cassandra Myers
By Mary Clark Weber
Daughter, Sister, Aunt, Friend, and Loved One
Everyone entering the Foothill Motel and Western Union office in Kings Beach, California, would
be met with a friendly greeting and ready to help. Cassandra was more than a loving daughter,
more than a faithful friend, more even than a reliable "keeper of the inn" and a trustworthy
transmitter of Western Union messages and funds. Behind the smile- a woman of determination,
strong will, an avid reader and writer.
Cassandra came into this world on the 25th of November, 1946, 2 months before her physical
body was ready and prepared for birth. Cassandra was born in Emmett, Idaho, a small valley
town smaller than Sumner, WA. She was the daughter of Merling and Ada Myers. She joined two
sisters, Marylin and Brenda and one brother Richard.
She loved animals and reading books. She would get into trouble trying to read a book while
doing her chores.
At age 4 she came to Federal Way, WA. with her family. Her medical bills, from a history of
pneumonia and other problems with being born early, kept the family from being affluent ( for
example, there was no inside bathrom until the youngest child was 6 years old; instead, there
were "three rooms and a path"), nobody felt "poor". Her folks provided the most important "things"
children can have--- love, laughter, the security of a stable home, and the joy to be found in
living and giving.
Cassandra graduated from Federal Way High School. She won the stamp award trophy there, the
one I had made for the speech class teacher. She loved to read and write, loved all animals and
most people, loved life in general, and who was seldom, if ever, bored.
Cassandra had been writing since she first learned how, she was actually paid to write, with her
own by-line, by a local newspaper, while still a teen. She did sell some magazine articles under
her birth name, but fame held no allure for her, and she did not like celebrity which accompanied
those sales. She didn't stop writing, but she no longer wrote for publication.
She worked for Dr. Del Kohler in the Federal Way office for several years. Then later, after her
graduation, she moved to a North Seattle apartment and employed in the banking business there.
Later, she moved to San Francisco, Ca. where she worked in the medical field again.
Cassandra met a wonderful man, was planning on being engaged to marry, however, before
they could be married, he was killed in an airplane accident. He was a crop duster for the
farmers. His mother called to tell her of his death. It was the same day of her dad's funeral. She
never found another man she could love again.
Cassandra's father passed away in 1972 and the family home sold. She learned of her mom's
unhappiness living with her sister, so Cassandra drove to Oregon and picked her mom up and
they traveled, down the road, not sure where they were going. They drove to Lake Tahoe and
found a lovely small motel. Cassandra had been investigating self-employment and that's how, in
1976, Cassandra and her mom Ada, together with friends Addie and Joe Collignon, acquired the
Foothill Motel. Addie and Joe left not long afterwards, winters, as we all know, can be very long
there.
They added Western Union to their business to keep them busy during the day. They
always provided their motel guests with a bag of candy they prepared to hold them over until
breakfast.
Since Cassandra had training as a paralegal, she was able to get a job with a respected attorney
in Incline Village, Ed Barnett.
Working both the motel and attorney office, she needed help with the rooms and over the years
several helpers became very special friends. Evodio Leon, his wife Socorro and children,
Michael, Vanessa, Lupito, and EJ., are beloved friends and part of their family.
Many people came to the motel for Western Union, and Cassandra learned Spanish in order to
assist those who sent money home to Mexico or South America. She always
treated her customers very kindly and assisted them by keeping track of their transaction, so she
had all information available to input on the computer without writing up forms each time. Her
customers continued to return each week or so to send more funds with them. Their agency was
the top money handler in Northern California for many years on end. Cassandra and Ada would
always work with the many local church leaders and would deeply discount their motel rooms in
order that their members who were in dire needs could have a room for a night or longer as the
leaders would authorize, including the local women agency to protect battered or frighten
women from spouses, and others.
She always looked forward to the bi-annual visits from oldest sister Marylin and
husband Troy and whenever possible, their children Patsy, Lavonda, Billy, and Robert, and to the
annual Thanksgiving visit from her older sister Brenda and husband Ron, and their children
Karina, Glen,Von, Don, and Melina. These visits grew even more important to her as year after
year passed, with her being able to go out to dinner, have repairs done to the motel, and playing
games into the late evening. She delighted in seeing all of her sister's grandchildren Chandra,
Haley Michelle, Casey, Krystal, Tiffany, Lacey, Travis, Ben, Lauren, Haley Marie, Hannah,
Ian,Ethan, Spencer, and pictures of Jack and Max.
Occasional visits by her brother Richard were made, when he was able to travel to the Tahoe
area. Also her brother Merlin Jr.'s daughter Carey came by to visit.
Cassandra and her mother Ada, always loved the Christmas Season. They would decorate the
office with a Christmas Village inside, and lights around the motel, which started the custom in
Kings Beach, CA.. Everyone would come to see their display in their office and all the action
figures and carousel spinning around.
Her younger brother lived with them from time to time until his death in 2000. Her mom Ada died
in 2001.
Between her early writing years and now, she owned and managed their motel business until
health issues forced her to sell the motel twenty-eight years after it's opening.
With the help of family, she moved most of her belongings up to Federal Way, WA., and then into
a lovely home in Lake Tapps, WA. She had her home remodeled for handicapped access.
Instead of seeing upwards of a hundred people every day, she and her canine companion or
service dog seldom saw anyone but each other. Poor dog, she said, he's not sure he likes this
writing thing.
Sherry Brekke helped Cassandra with her needs, pharmacy orders, and take her to get medical
attention for her and her dog Tio Pepe. Later they started a business together, however
Cassandra became too ill to participate after awhile.
Cassandra was taking creative writing courses at a local university, using the web site for her
classes.Professors stated that she was well above what they could help her with. She was
finally able to write stories and was working on several books at last with her faithful and growing
old companion dog, Tio Pepe. Tio saved her life several times arousing her when her blood
sugar levels were becoming too low and she would get close to going into a coma.
Cassandra died in her sleep, after many years of suffering from pain, pneumonia and other
illnesses. She was able to return to the Lord in peace and find her loved ones awaiting her
return
If she were still here, her family can well imagine her saying the following to all those who knew
her and loved her:
"Don't grieve for me, for now I'm free,
I'm following the path God laid for me.
I took his hand when I heard his call.
I turned my back and left it all.
I could not stay another day
To laugh, to love, to work or play.
Tasks left undone must stay that way;
I've found that peace at the close of the day.
If my parting has left a void,
Then fill it with remembered joy:
A friendship shared, a laugh, a kiss...
Ah, yes, these things I too will miss.
Be not burdened with times of sorrow,
I wish you sunshine of tomorrow.
My life's been full; I've savored much;
Good friends, good times, a loved one's touch.
Perhaps my time seemed all to brief.
Don't lengthen it now with undue grief.
Lift up your heart and share with me.
God wanted me now. He set me free"
Cassandra, we love you and look forward to that reunion with a loving Heavenly Father and his
Son, Jesus Christ, and loving ancestors, and a future reunion with earthly family members for
whom you will be preparing a welcome.
And, this I leave with you, In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Eulogy prepared and offered by Ronald Brekke
In the Memory Of
A. Cassandra Myers
25 November 1946 - 17 October 2006
Memorial Service 26 October 2006