Lily "Juanita" (Nita) Cunningham

Lily Juanita (Nita) Cunningham was born January 27, 1924 in Valley Crucis, N.C. to Donald and Mary Elizabeth Townsend. She took her last peaceful breath in this life on Jan 12 with her daughter Kate and granddaughter Marybeth by her side.

Nita was born in a beautiful valley aptly named Valley of the Cross, high in the Appalachian Mountains. At the age of 12 she journeyed with her parents and four siblings to Okanogan, Washington in a 1937 Whippet. At 18 she moved to Seattle where she worked at the Boeing Plant building the B 17s.

When the war ended, she went home for a visit where she met and married Lloyd Norton later giving birth to twin girls with only one surviving.

Four years later she married Ben Graffis. They were married for 20 years. In the US Army while stationed in Germany they adopted two beautiful baby boys Danny and Jim.

1968 found Nita working as a deputy Chelan Co Clerk where she had a whirlwind life with many friends and travels.

In 1988 she married Tom Cunningham. They loved to travel in their motor home, fish and visit the occasional casino. In later years they wintered in Yuma with Kate and Jack.

Nita loved creating something out of nothing. She was a known painter of the Trail of Tears on gourds and her unique shirt aprons.

Thank you, Jan.

Nita is survived by daughter Kate Brantner, son Dan (Carrie) Graffis.
Granddaughter Marybeth Sexton, Caylyn Graffis.
Great grandson Justin (Haley) Malloy.
Great granddaughter Amanda Malloy.
Great great grandsons Ethan and Daniel.
Great great granddaughter Georgia.
Also step-son Clay Cunningham and his family.

Nita lost a daughter Catherine and son Jim.
Granddaughters Deborah and Jennifer.

We want to thank our Hospice Angels. Especially Zoe.

I ask my mom how she wanted to be remembered. She said, “That I loved all living things.” So be it.
Fly, Lily, fly.