Mary Slothower Obituary

Mary Kathryn Slothower

Born: September 25, 1937

Died: January 26, 2018

Mary Kathryn Slothower passed away January 26, 2018.

Mary was born September 25, 1937 above her grandfather's tailor shop in Okanogan, Washington. During her childhood she lived in Chelan and Seattle. Throughout her life she lived in Pullman, West Seattle, Ponce and San Juan Puerto Rico, Glen Ellyn and Naperville Illinois, and Hilton Head South Carolina. After retiring, she returned to Washington to live near her son in Ellensburg. Mary had a passion for travel and owned and operated Courier Travel in Glen Ellyn for many years. When she wasn't working she loved traveling and enjoyed trips throughout the mainland U.S. and Hawaii, as well as South America, Africa and Europe.

She enjoyed her life-long friends and their annual Beach Group trips, Bridge Club and, after moving to Ellensburg, her CWU Scholarship brunch group. Mary's passion was gardening, and she was often consulted regarding botanical names and plant and flower care. Whenever Mary moved, the first thing she did was join a Garden Club. Plant sales, backyard gardens and flower arranging competitions soon followed. She was a great cook and her fabulous dinners, accompanied by her love of conversation, were usually adorned with a floral centerpiece she designed and created.

After moving to Ellensburg, Mary joined the Queen of Spades Garden Club and continued to participate well after the onset of Primary Progressive Aphasia, the form of dementia which ultimately prevented her from writing or speaking. Mary's family and friends knew well how she loved to chat with individuals and at gatherings and her difficulty and ultimate inability to do that in her last few years was particularly frustrating for her.

Mary had a strong volunteer spirit and spent many days volunteering in her grandchildren's classrooms at Lincoln Elementary, helping young students read. Even after she had difficulty speaking Mary continued to volunteer at the Chamber of Commerce office, Jazz In The Valley and at the Kittitas County Fair, helping greet folks in the Frontier Village. Mary loved the Farmer's Market and spend many Saturdays perusing the produce and flowers. Mary enjoyed living near her grandchildren and rarely missed attending their games and 4-H events.

Mary's family would like to thank and express their appreciation for the wonderful care Mary received at Hearthstone Cottage in Ellensburg, Fieldstone Memory Care in Yakima and Heartlinks Hospice Care.

Mary is survived by her son, Jeffrey; her daughter-in-law, Susan Harrel; her grandchildren, Molly Slothower and Sam Slothower; and her brothers, Doug Holtz and Frank McPherson.

Mary was preceded in death by her father, Julius Holtz; her mother, Alice McPherson; and her stepfather, Wallace McPherson.

To honor Mary her family suggests planting flowers or a tree. At Mary's request there will be no funeral service.

To share a memory of Mary visit, www.lepfuneralhome.com.