LYNNWOOD — Sharon Rutherford, who served as a Lynnwood city councilwoman for more than a quarter of a century, died of a respiratory illness Monday. She was 75.
She is survived by her husband, Jim, and their sons and daughters-in-law Patrick and Alice Rutherford of Brier, and Richard and Kris Rutherford of Marysville. Rutherford had four surviving grandchildren.
“We had 48 wonderful years,” Jim Rutherford said. “She loved people and loved to travel.”
The Rutherfords lived in Lynnwood since 1968. She served on the City Council from 1972 through 2000.
“Sharon had a love for the city and always had the best interest of the city at heart,” said Tina Roberts-Martinez, who served on the council with Rutherford and was also Lynnwood mayor for eight years. “She did her homework.”
Rutherford had the perfect personality for an elected official, Roberts-Martinez said.
“She was straightforward, upfront and didn’t hold back,” Roberts-Martinez said.
In recent years, Rutherford’s health challenges, related to Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, kept her from getting out and doing what she liked best — being with people and attending events in Lynnwood.
A public memorial service is scheduled for noon May 9 at Purdy &Walters at Floral Hills cemetery, 409 Filbert Road, Lynnwood.
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