Elaine Marie Agrillo

Elaine was born Nov. 24, 1943 as Darlin Kay Horsley, the youngest child to George Robert and Margaret Almira Horsley of Seattle, Washington. When the family unit broke apart, she became a ward of the state and came as a foster child to Egan and Ruth Backman. In late 1944 the adoption became final and her name was legally changed to Elaine Marie. Elaine’s early years were spent in the Ballard/Richmond Beach area and she attended school in the Shoreline district, graduating from Shoreline High school in 1962. It was during these formative years Elaine discovered a love for music and animals. Being an only child, she was often found playing with her pets or found in the band or choir. Elaine was an honor student and knew from the time she was in Jr. High that she wanted to be a school teacher when she grew up. Upon graduating she began her teaching career in Puyallup, Washington. In later years she would also teach in Fort Knox, Kentucky, Nutley, New Jersey and Seattle, Washington. Joe and Elaine were married on Oct. 19, 1968 upon Joe's return from Viet Nam. He discharged from the Army and they settled into Lyndhurst, New Jersey, Joe’s hometown, where in 1971, Gina Marie was born. Six years later, in 1977, after the return to the northwest, Anna Marie arrived. In 1980, at the age of 36, Elaine was blessed with the re-uniting of her “natural” birth family and getting to know her birth mother Margaret and brothers Bob and Michael. This experience became a healing and growing time for all. Elaine was a “people” person and friendships were very treasured by her. She always had an open-door policy and many times; you couldn’t leave without being fed. Baking became her” sweet spot”. When her hands were stronger, she loved to do arts and crafts and was an avid reader. In earlier years, gardening brought much satisfaction and she adored her many pets and traveling. In younger years she enjoyed camping with her family, as she got older Scandinavia and Mexico were true memory makers. But of all the places she visited, the Oregon Coast had her heart. It was there that she found peace and calm, a place to recharge and refresh. The Lord and church were very important to Elaine and truly loved the Lord. She felt that He had a protective hand on her life from an early age and had directed her steps throughout her life. She learned at an early age the power of prayer and experienced that healing power of the Lord on several occasions. From her early years at the Philadelphia church in Ballard to her family being charter members of Westgate Chapel in Edmonds, God has been her saving grace. In 2009 Joe and Elaine started attending Northsound church in Edmonds, but health issues made it hard to attend regularly. Through it all, she constantly lifted up her many friendships and church leaderships in prayer. He showed her His blessings time and again from bringing her to her Godly parents, her strong husband Joe, her two wonderful daughters, 6 amazing grandkids and last year her first great-grandson, all which brought her such overwhelming joy.