Mary Theone Else

Mary Theone ELSE Mary T. Else passed away on February 7, 2011, in Issaquah, Washington at the age of 93. She celebrated her 88th birthday in August 2007 with her children, grandchildren and great-grand children gathered from around the U.S. for a family reunion in Redmond. Mary Else was born in Ft. Morgan, CO, raised in Beatrice, NE, and lived with her husband and children in Beatrice, Lincoln, and Elm Creek, NE. She provided bookkeeping, clerking, and general support in Else Drug Company in Elm Creek (late Elm Creek Drug Co.). She was a member of the First Christian Church and Eastern Star. She always supported her children's academic and extra-curricular activities at Elm Creek Public School, including driving team members to away games. She later also worked for a real estate company in Kearney. Following the death of her husband in 1965, she moved to Seattle, Washington in 1969, to be closer to her children, and made Seattle her home for rest of her life. Mary Else worked for mortgage companies and property management companies in Seattle for many years. The gradual decline in her health and the onset of dementia was difficult for her and for those who loved her. She eventually moved into the Issaquah Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, where she lived out the remainder of her life, with weekly outings to Sunday lunches for as long as her health permitted. Mary Else was known for not following the expectations for a woman of her time. She always worked outside the home and loved to drive. She took up flying at the age of 50 and qualified as a licensed commercial pilot with an instrument rating. She had begun classes in aerobatics just before she decided to discontinue that hobby. She always took pride in her independence, in being self-supporting, and helping out her children when needed. She is survived by three children, Floyd Else in Bellevue WA, John F. Else in Omaha, and Mary L. Morris in Lacey, WA, by seven grand-children, Steve Else, Cathy Else Gault, Nathan Else, Nicole Williams, Trevor Menagh, Jennifer Blazian, Catherine Morris, and by several great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband Floyd W. Else, her daughter Sandra Menagh, her son-in-law, Harold Menagh, and their infant son, Troy Menagh. A memorial service was held by family members in Washington in February and another family memorial service is planned for late June in Omaha. The family encourages contributions to the Alzheimer's Association 225 N. Michigan Ave., Fl. 17, Chicago, Ill 60601-7633, or on online at http://www.alz.org/index.asp.