The last family owned funeral home in Thurston County.

Renae Marie Rushing, 59 passed away in Portland, OR. at OSHU hospital with complication from Cancer and Asthma on December 6, 2021.  Renae leaves behind her loving husband of 13 years, Ryan Williams, her Daughter Nickie Clark, her two brothers Dan and Eddie Wherett, Sister Merlene Robbins and numerous other family members. 

Renae was born on January 24, 1962, to the proud parents, Howard and Elise Wherett, at St. Peters Hospital in Lacey, WA.  She grew up in a family of 12 with 10 brothers and sisters.   Renae loved sewing, knitting, traveling and going on dinner cruises.  She spent most of her time and energy as a wife and caregiver to family members and loved ones.  She worked at St. Peters Hospital for 14 years taking exceptional care of patients and being an encouragement/support to the families of the sick.   Renae loved her job and enjoyed helping and saving others in their time of need. 

Renae married her husband Ryan Williams on December 12, 2009.  Ryan and Renae met through some mutual friends at the time and kicked it off in Las Vegas in July 2008.  In the early years of marriage, Ryan and Renae did a lot of traveling from place to place, like Vegas, Chicago, Bahamas, Reno, Lake Tahoe, etc. and would go on dinner cruises if they could, or watch a firework shows. They purchased a home in December 2012 in Tumwater.   In the spring of 2013, Renae was diagnosed with Stage 3A Breast Cancer.  This was a very difficult for her to accept as she was just moving ahead in life.  She would spend the next 6 months fighting for life and would beat the cancer in the end.  During this time Renae still continued to work as much as she could, took care of family members as needed, as well as, endured chemotherapy and radiation treatments.  In September of 2013, doctors officially announced Renae as cancer free.  She had beaten breast cancer!!!!!!  This was a very hard time in her life, but she battled it everyday and displayed her toughness by fighting through it and had the will to never give up on anything in life that’s worth fighting for, even your own life.  Renae was the rock of her family and she kept family members altogether.  Renae would live another 8 productive years which included being involved with Relay for Life and she put her sewing and knitting skills to work to raise money for cancer awareness.  She made several hats, booties, sweaters, and a few Seahawks jackets that were auctioned off for fundraisers and participated in the survivor ceremonies at these events.   In November 2021, Renae was diagnosed with cancer a second time, along with asthma breathing issues, and this time it was not beatable, it ended up taking her to heaven. 

Our Family would like to invite you to a celebration ceremony of life on January 8 at 10:45am at the Woodlawn Funeral Home Chapel in Lacey, WA.  In lieu of flowers, please consider donating in Renae’s name to the American Cancer Society.