Serina May Colby

SERINA MAY COLBY (1962-2022) Serina May Colby passed away at her home in the presence of her husband and some of her family members on November 20, 2022 after a short battle with metastatic breast cancer. Serina was born in Coeur d’Alene, ID to Nancy Inez and Robert Eugene McAllister on January 17, 1962. She attended elementary school there and then attended Kellogg High School after the family moved to Pinehurst, Idaho. She graduated in 1980 and was a class co-valedictorian. She then attended North Idaho College to become a Medical Assistant. Serina married her husband, Morgan L Colby on March 30, 1986 at an Easter evening candlelight service in Challis, ID. Serina had an incredible work ethic. She started her working career by delivering newspapers on her bicycle in Coeur d’Alene. She waited on tables (which she hated), was a tailings dam operator (which she tolerated) for Cyprus Minerals near Clayton, ID and worked as a lab technician (which suited her just fine) at the same place. She enjoyed working as an Emergency Department Admissions Clerk at Harrison Hospital in Bremerton, WA. She ended her working career as a Physical Science Technician for the Department of Defense at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in support of the U S Navy’s nuclear program by testing and certifying employees for nuclear work. She is known to say on many occasions that she “survived” 30 years in that place. She was able to make work related trips to California, Virginia and, her favorite, Yokosuka, Japan. She said the world’s best french pastries and lasagna were to be had in Yokosuka, Japan. She and Morgan left Gig Harbor, WA and retired in Moses Lake, WA. Serina loved to read, cook, hike, garden, watch Seahawks football and go fishing with Morgan. She was known for her very quick wit, kindness, humor and an infectious laugh that could light up a room. Since retirement, Serina was able to get together with her old high school groupies. She enjoyed catching up with each of their lives and making renewed connections. Serina was preceded in death by her father, Robert E McAllister. She is survived by her husband, Morgan, her mother (Nancy I Slaight of Smelterville, ID), her brother (Chris E McAllister of Smelterville, ID) and her sister (Kathy N Ellis of Smelterville, ID). Serina also leaves behind two amazing friends: Cindy Quisenberry (of Carlton, WA) and Kim Winters (of Farr West, UT). Serina requested that there be no services. Our language is really not sufficient to describe just how lovely Serina was.

Serina May Colby

January 17, 1962 - November 20, 2022