Mary E. Van Allen

She was born to Emil and Josephine (Kuther) Renggli on June 16, 1923, in Prosser, Wash. Her family moved to Clarkston after her father passed away when she was 2.

Mary graduated from Holy Family Catholic School in the eighth grade, then went on to Clarkston High School, where she graduated June 3, 1941.

She married Wilbur (Webb) Van Allen Dec. 20, 1942, in Colville, Wash. He passed away May 27, 1999.

Mary waitressed at the old Lewis-Clark Hotel in her early years, making 25 cents an hour. She had the food concession stand at the Jungert Auction House on 13th Street. She was the bookkeeper and parts runner for her and her husband's plumbing business. In her later years (78 through 83) she worked as a waitress and pie baker for her daughter at The Blue Mountain Cafe in Anatone. Most everyone told her she made the best pies they ever had, earning her the name of the "Pie Lady." While there, she made many friends. After the cafe closed, she moved in with her daughter and son-in-law in Anatone. There she helped with planting flowers, feeding the chickens, gathering, collecting and cleaning the eggs. She took the eggs to town for sale and was then known as "The Egg Lady."

Mary was a Bluebird and Campfire Girl leader, a den mother for the Cub Scouts and put in many hours at the Asotin County Fair. She did a lot of gardening and picking fruit and canning in order to feed the large family. She enjoy working outdoors, raising flowers, especially her rose bushes, and she loved spending time with her family. She was a member of the Holy Family Catholic Church since she was a small child, the senior center, and the Clarkston Eagles.

Her surviving children are Bob Van Allen Sr. of Lewiston, Jerry and Georgia Van Allen of Gig Harbor, Wash., Mary and Tom Daley of Omak, Wash., Bill Van Allen Sr. of Clarkston, Sande and Tom Payne of Richland, Betty Findley of Spokane, Laurie and Bill Kerr of Anatone, and Toni Huff of Airway Heights, Wash.; her grandchildren, great- and great-great grandchildren; she is also survived by her brother, Joe Renggli, 93, of Clarkston; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Preceding her in death were her parents; her husband, Webb; her oldest daughter, Janet; her grandson-in-law, Eric; and a great-grandson; four brothers: the Rev. Ralph Schwemin, Raymond Schwemin, Arnold Schwemin and Marion Renngli; and one sister, Emily Renggli.

Services will be at Holy Family Catholic Church, on Chestnut and 11th streets, Clarkston. The rosary will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday, followed by the service at 11 a.m., followed by the dinner.

She has been cremated per her wishes and the interment will follow the dinner at 2:30 p.m. at Vineland Cemetery, next to her husband.

In her memory, please plant a flower or rose bush.