Mary JoLayne Horst

1936 - 2015

Mary JoLayne Horst made the transition into the heavenly world on Monday, June 8, 2015, at her home in Sequim, Wash., surrounded by her family and loving husband. Mary JoLayne Traxinger was born in Herreid, S.D., on March 24, 1936, on a family farm where everyone worked. She was the middle of six children. At the age of 14, her family moved to Bemidji, Minn., and opened a family restaurant. At age 15, her family traveled the turbulent Alcan Highway headed to Alaska to live, which yielded many of her life-long memories and adventures. Arriving in Anchorage, Alaska, she immediately went to work at Sealy's Drug Store. At the age of 16, she married Joseph Donahue and followed him to Fairbanks, Alaska, where he was serving in the military. At the age of 18 and pregnant with her first child, they moved to New Jersey, where she was in awe of the big cities and a different pace of life. In addition to her first child, she had three more children while in New Jersey. At the age of 22, she returned to Alaska and homesteaded 140 acres of remote land at Point MacKenzie. At age 24, she had her fifth child and was at the time a single mother working in Anchorage to support her five children. She was 29 years old when she married her life partner, Herman Horst. Together, they worked hard and had many adventures. She opened Mary's Barber Shop and was the favorite barber of many in Anchorage. Retiring from the shop, she helped operate and expand Horst Excavating and Trucking Company. At age 43, Mary and Herman retired from Alaska and began a new life and new adventures full of farming, growing, gardening and selling hay in Sequim. They placed a pivotal role in the community and were an integral part of the farmers market, where they showcased their produce and flowers grown on the farm. Active in the practice and faith of Eckankar, she enjoyed sharing the teachings of love and goodwill. At 79 years of age, Mary moved on from her living body to a new adventure. She is survived by many family and friends who love and admired her very much, too much to mention. Surviving Mary are her husband, Herman Horst; her children and their partners, Larry (Janet) Donahue, Joe Donahue, Kathleen (Michael) Grant, Ken Donahue and Mark (Char) Donahue; her younger siblings, Paul Traxinger and Patty Evina; and many grand- and great-grandchildren, with whom she shared special bonds. Preceding her in death were many close family members, including her parents, siblings and children-in-law. A memorial celebration will be held at the Bayshore Clubhouse, 3131 Amber Bay Loop in Anchorage, on July 7, 2015, at 6:30 p.m. Later, there will be a family gathering at the Goose Bay Homestead on July 12, 2015, at 2 p.m.