Lorene Joanne (Gudmundson) Meck

Lorene passed peacefully at home on December 26, 2025, with her three children by her side.

Lorene was born on April 8, 1938, to Emil Theodore and Olive Dagmar (Breidford) Gudmundson in Blaine, Washington. The youngest of seven children, she grew up in a large, loving family that endured much during her younger years. Lorene told many stories of growing up in the Gudmundson household-of the places they lived, what the family experienced, and the love they all shared. She was raised on farms and had fond memories of those years, helping with the animals and gardens, and even having a pet chicken! She adored and admired her parents for all the love they instilled within their family and missed them all very much.

Lorene graduated from Blaine High School in 1956. After graduation she met and married Charles Miller in 1957. Tragedy struck after only two months of marriage, when Charles passed away in an accident. Lorene moved to Seattle not long after with her older siblings and lived there for a few years before returning to Blaine. In 1963, she met Edward Meck, who was stationed at Blaine Air Force Base as a medic. Ed asked Emil for permission to marry Lorene and he happily gave his blessing. In February 1964 they eloped to Coeur d'Alene, Idaho to be married, followed by a honeymoon in Reno, Nevada, where Lorene got Elvis’ autograph! Their son Kenneth was born in February of 1965, and their first daughter, Carol, in June 1966. They purchased their first home in 1966 on Harborview Road in Birch Bay to raise their kids. In 1968, the Air Force transferred Ed to Eglin Air Force Base in Florida where they lived for two years. After leaving Florida, the Meck’s drove up to the Pennsylvania/New York area where Edward was raised and met his side of the family. They then returned home to Birch Bay and in February 1972, second daughter Barbara was born. In 1974 Ed and Lorene sold the Birch Bay home and moved the family into a larger, newer home in Ferndale. There they lived for the next 41 years, raising their children and spending time with their grandchildren. Lorene stayed home to raise their kids until she returned to work part time in the late 1970s selling Avon. She then went on to work at her sister’s gift shop in Blaine and then to a gift store at the Bellis Fair Mall, rising to store manager until her retirement. In their retirement years, Lorene and Ed spent considerable time with the Gudmundson families, their children and grandchildren and enjoyed traveling to sunny destinations. Edward passed away in October of 2016 at the age of 87.

Lorene is survived by her son, Kenneth Meck (Kristy); daughters, Carol Schusster (Rick) and Barbara Bloch (Mike), grandchildren, Ashley Boesen (Tyler), Erika Dorland (Gilbert) and Logan Meck (fiancée, Fayth Buck), great-grandchildren Jackson and Zoey Roberts, Gilbert and Gage Dorland and Dakota and Margo Boesen, sister-in-law Anita Gudmundson, and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews who she adored. She is preceded in death by husband Edward Meck, parents Emil and Olive Gudmundson, sisters Esther Pedersen, June Vaughn, NormaJean Bakarich, Margaret Rutherford, Theo Hull and brother Theodore “Bud” Gudmundson. She will be remembered as a loving wife, mother, grandmother, sibling, aunt and friend. A private family graveside service will be at Hillsdale Cemetery, Blaine WA. Public memorial services are pending. In memory of Lorene, in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Free Church Unitarian,1218 Harrison Ave, Blaine, WA 98230 or Whatcom Hospice. You may share memories with the family at www.westfordfuneralhome.com.