Maeve Lambert
Maeve Lambert began life on January 7, 1942, in Yuba City, California, and died on September 2, 2014. Maeve was a remarkable woman. She had the uncanny ability to inspire those around her to achieve more than they ever thought possible. Always dreaming and planning, Maeve could see when something could be created out of nothing. She lived her life pushing boundaries, and in so doing made those around her stronger and ultimately better people.
The most important part of the story of Maeve’s life is her family. Maeve had two remarkable daughters, Tamar and Natasha, whom she raised with the love of her life, Hilary Emmer. Over 37 years, they had a love story that is rivaled by few. They did everything together and spent no more than a few days apart at a time. There was nothing that Maeve could not do, and if she couldn’t she would encourage Hilary to do it. Hilary quickly and happily learned that you never said no to Maeve, and she credits Maeve with making her the person she is today.
Maeve’s career life began as a nurse in a small town hospital in Quincy, California. There she got to do everything, including delivering babies. She loved the fact that she was able to deliver babies and helped bring over 40 into the world. Nursing allowed Maeve to move around, and her last nursing job was in Spokane. But Boeing was hiring in the 1960s, and since it paid more than nursing, Maeve switched jobs and moved to Seattle. She lived on the main street on Alki and bought her favorite car ever, a GTO with a double-barrel carburetor. Always adventurous, Maeve, after working the swing shift at Boeing, would drag race her GTO up and down I-405, which was being built at the time. Yes, sometimes the police interceded, but for her that was half the fun.
Working for Boeing during the Vietnam War meant you were forced to buy war bonds with each paycheck. One day Maeve counted up her bonds and realized she had enough money to go to college, a dream she never thought would be a reality. Maeve moved back to California and went to California State University at Chico, majoring in political science. There she met Warren Dunn, and in her senior year their daughter Tamar was born. Warren, a draft evader, left for Canada before Tamar’s birth. Maeve graduated and then joined Warren in Canada, where their second daughter Natasha was born. The four of them were able to return to Chico in 1975, after the draft board in Fresno mysteriously burned down.
As a feminist, Maeve found working at the Chico Feminist Women’s Health Center a perfect fit. The health center provided birth control and abortion services. And it was there in 1976 that she met Hilary, also a feminist working at the clinic. In fact, Maeve was Hilary’s supervisor, and at one point, she even put Hilary on probation. They got past that little personnel issue, however, and soon became an inseparable couple. The two, now parenting Tamar and Natasha together, felt that Chico was not the best place to raise children, and the new family moved to Seattle, which had a large, diverse population.
Maeve found a house in Seattle that she considered ideal. Unfortunately, it was a shell of a house, with no bathroom, kitchen, electricity or plumbing. Hilary thought she was crazy, but Maeve had a vision. She believed Hilary had the skill to renovate the home with two young children underfoot. And she liked that it was within walking distance to the elementary school she wanted their children to attend. So at night, Maeve and Hilary found themselves poring over Time-Life books on home renovation and on weekends progress was made. Over the course of 15 years – and after enough home-renovation adventures to fill a TV series – they created a beautiful two-story house from that shell of a structure. It was a tough, ambitious and successful project – and one that demonstrated the nature of their dynamic relationship: Maeve was the driving force, Hilary her sidekick.
In 1981, Maeve found a job at Associated Grocers in data entry and was there when the first desktop computers arrived. She quickly learned the systems, rose up the ranks and retired 15 years later as manager of more than 40 people in the accounts payable department.
Maeve wanted to return to the country for her retirement and she and Hilary chose Vashon as their new home. In 1990, they purchased land on Maury Island on which to build their dream house. Maeve designed the house, and in 1999, she and Hilary were once again building a home together. Maeve also loved gardens, and she planted a large perennial garden that would always be in bloom, a place where she could watch the birds and butterflies land on her flowers. And of course there was a huge vegetable garden.
Maeve was a voracious reader, usually working on three to four books of all different genres at a time. She was also an artist who created intricate needlepoint, worked at weaving and spinning and designed stained glass. A piece of her stained glass hangs permanently in a place of honor above the door of the Snapdragon Café on Vashon Island.
In 2002, at age 60, Maeve was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Once again Maeve had somehow instinctively known where to move, because the Vashon community proved how wonderful people can be. As Maeve’s disease progressed, the community accepted, supported and loved both women. Hilary remains deeply grateful for the support Maeve received.
Maeve leaves a legacy of love and inspiration for all who knew her. She is survived by her partner Hilary Emmer of Vashon and her daughters Tamar Dunn (Carl Bicknell) of Seattle and Natasha Dunn (Eric Vandermolen) of Oakland, California.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, October 5, at Camp Burton. In lieu of flowers, those wishing to make a donation in Maeve’s name can send a tax-deductible contribution to Cedar River Clinic, 263 Rainier Avenue South, Suite 200, Renton, Wash., 98057, or call Mercedes Sanchez at 425-278-1132. Cedar River Clinic is part of the Feminist Women’s Health Center system.
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