Mary Eileen Fallon Walker

Mary Eileen Fallon Walker Mary Eileen Fallon Walker was born in New York City on Jan. 26, 1928. Mary passed away quietly on June 5, 2008, in Kimberly. The daughter of Francis Patrick Fallon and Mary Nora Curry Fallon, hard working Irish immigrants, Mary was raised in Brooklyn, N.Y. She attended Midvale High School and received her diploma in 1946. As a child, Mary discovered her love of music, particularly singing, and took voice lessons as a child. Mary soon developed a beautiful classically trained soprano singing voice. In the fall of 1946, Mary began attending the prestigious Julliard School of Music as a voice major. She studied music for a year and a half, when the bright lights of Broadway beckoned. Along with her great singing ability, Mary also possessed physical beauty and that dark auburn red hair only the Irish lasses seem to possess. It is no wonder then, that she soon found success on the Great White Way. Mary had the good fortune to commence her career during the heyday of musical comedy. On Broadway she played in "Brigadoon", "Arms and the Girl", and "Allegro". Mary was also a favorite in summer stock and regional theatre from Cape Cod to Atlanta. She played many of the lead roles in "Finian's Rainbow", "Carousel", "Sweethearts", "Guys and Dolls", "Connecticut Yankee", "A Tree Grows In Brooklyn", and "Courtin' Time". For seven years, Mary made a living in this notoriously tough industry In late 1950, while playing a show in Boston, Mary met the love of her life, Lloyd J. Walker. A Hailey native, Lloyd was a recent graduate of Harvard College and was beginning his first year at Harvard Law School. Mary and Lloyd quickly fell in love, and were married on April 25, 1952. During their engagement, Lloyd was drafted into the Army and sent to Germany. After their wedding, Mary joined him there and studied at the Baden Conservatory of Music. After his discharge, Lloyd and Mary lived in Boston. While Lloyd finished law school, Mary worked in the infant television industry and sang on a local live TV show. But when Lloyd finished his law degree in 1955, they left for Twin Falls Idaho and started his career in law and politics. Mary was a lady of her time, and she believed that family was the most important part of a person's life. So she willingly left her career in New York and moved to Idaho to support her husband in his career and have a family. The mid 1950's were heady times for young people. Mary and Lloyd were soon totally involved in Democratic politics, working first on Senator Frank Church's initial senatorial campaign and later on both Kennedy campaigns. Mary was a delegate to the 1992 Democratic convention and remained active in politics her entire life. Mary never lost her love of music, acting and singing. After moving to Twin Falls, she and other young musicians /actors founded the Dilettantes, a theatre company that continues to perform annual musicals to this day. Mary played lead roles in Annie Get Your Gun, South Pacific and My Fair Lady. Also, Mary sang lead roles in the operas La Boehme in Boise and Carmen in Twin Falls. She also sang recitals and other musical events at the College of Southern Idaho. During the 1970's, Mary served on the Idaho Arts and Humanities Commission. She also opened her own studio in her home, and taught voice to young people for many years. Mary was the mother of four children. Lloyd William was born in 1956, Francis Patrick in 1958, Mary Nora in 1964 and Marjorie Ann in 1968. Mary was an excellent cook and loved to entertain her friends with fantastic dinners. A very important part of Mary's life was her religion. She was a devout Catholic, and sang in the St. Edward's choir. Mary is survived by her brother, Francis Edward Fallon, her children Lloyd Walker (Barbara), Frank Walker (Ann Cosho), Nora Kestler (Michael) and Marjorie Hansen (John) and her five grandchildren, Lane Elizabeth Walker, Francis Patrick Walker II, Lloyd Julius Walker II, Marilyn Kate Walker and Joseph Lloyd Hansen. A prayer vigil with rosary will take place at 7 p.m. Monday, June 9 at Reynolds Funeral Chapel. The funeral mass will take place at 11 a.m. Tuesday, June 10, 2008 at St. Edward the Confessor Catholic Church. Burial will follow at Sunset Memorial Park. Friends may call at Reynolds Chapel on Monday from 2 p.m. until the time of the rosary service. In lieu of flowers donations may be made in Mary's name to the Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers and the CSI Foundation, Music Department.