Anna Matt was 85 years old in 1965. She was a widow and had no children or other relatives. For several years she had relied on assistance from her close friends in business and everyday affairs. Noreen Watson and her husband, Anna Matts neighbors, had in recent years rendered the bulk of this assistance. Ethlen Preston, whom Anna Matt considered as a daughter, after an absence of several years, returned to Seattle in early 1965, and began to also assist Mrs. Matt. In October, 1965, Mrs. Preston and Mrs. Matt went to the Washington Mutual Savings Bank, where Mrs. Matt had on deposit in her own name in excess of $10,400. While there, she and Mrs. Preston executed a signature card which added Mrs. Prestons name to the account. This card reads, in part: "Funds in this account are to be paid to either or the survivor of us." Mrs. Matt gave Mrs. Preston the passbook to the account which she still retains.
