Loretta Mary Henderson

Loretta Mary Henderson, née Byers, 97 died peacefully on July 21, 2025. Loretta was a long-time resident of Kennewick, WA before moving to Ohio in 2020 to be near her family. She was born in Philadelphia, PA and was the youngest child of William and Edith Byers. Loretta and her husband moved to Washington in the 1950s where they raised seven children, first in the Seattle area then settling on their farm in Kennewick, WA.

Loretta was a skilled seamstress who, as a young woman, made many of her own clothes. She then used that skill to make and alter clothing for her growing family. In her retirement years, she began making quilts that are true works of art. Quilts became her “go to” project whenever anyone in her family or circle of friends was expecting a child.

She was the last survivor of the many Henderson/Byers siblings raised in North Philadelphia whose lives were significantly shaped by both the Great Depression and WWII. These experiences led Loretta and her husband to choose a rural area to raise their children where they gained a level of independence by growing their own food. As city kids, they had no experience with farming but learned as they went and bartered when they had excess with other families in their rural community.

She was a Daughter of the American Revolution through the service of her ancestors from Buck’s County, Pennsylvania. In her role as a 4-H leader, Loretta taught many young girls the basics of sewing. She also loved her time as a member of the Red Hat Society in Tri-Cities, WA.

She was preceded in death by her parents, William and Edith Byers, sister Florence Carria, brother William M. Byers, daughter Loretto Hulse and son Michael Henderson. She is survived by her children Tom (Linda) Henderson of Issaquah, WA, Pat (Theresa) Henderson of LaGrande, OR, Mary (John) Benedict of Fairhope, AL, Eileen (Saul) Santiago of Wadsworth, OH, Jeani (Mike) Mallouk of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada and Jason (Lynn) Miller of Westport, CT. Loretta also leaves a lasting legacy of twelve grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren.

Private services will be held by her family prior to her interment at Riverview Heights Cemetery in Kennewick, WA.

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