Mary E. Harris

1914 - 2015

MARY E. HARRIS GOOD
April 12, 1914 -
September 18, 2015

Mary Ellen Harris Good, 101 years old, died in her sleep Sept. 18, 2015 at Mt. Glen Retirement Home in Mt. Vernon. She was born on Easter Sunday April 12, 1914 to parents Eugene J. & Irene D. Athearn Harris.

Mary & her family have been longtime residents of Skagit Valley. Great grandparents, Wm & Nancy Brown Hayes arrived in Mt. Vernon in 1884. Her grandparents Mr. & Mrs P.J. Pedersen ( Nancy E. Hayes) owned the first " City" Bakery & a merchantile store in the early 1900's. Her grandfather, Wm. H. Harris was the second oldest Civil War Veteran in Washington State when he died in 1936 at the age of 94. Her father was mayor of Mt. Vernon from 1925 - 1927 and was instrumental in acquiring the acreage that is HillCrest Park.

Mary had a long full life well lived. As a young woman she married Earl Wilms, they had a son Earl E. Wilms on January 25, 1931. After the marriage ended in divorce, Mary met & wedded Charles Eugene Campbell of Burlington. They called Oregon home until 1950, "Gene" Campbell died of Cancer and Mary returned home to the Skagit Valley. At a local dance she met a former schoolmate, Wallace (Sharky) D. Good. They married in 1955 at the farm on Dunbar Rd., their residence for over 3 decades. They were organic before it was "in", raising their own fruit, vegetables & meats. Grandpa Sharky died suddenly in 1983 and the following year Grandma Mary moved to N. 15th St. She lived there till 2010 and at 96 years of age moved to Mt. Glen.

Mary was a smart woman never shied away from hard work, enjoyed many interests and survived many hardships. She was proud of her promotion from bookkeeper to Manager of a Singer Sewing Machine store in Astoria in the 40's. She was an excellent seamstress and good with numbers. Mary & Shark loved to travel, dance & entertain family & friends. They spoiled their grandchildren Dana & Dale sharing their love of travel with trips to Disney land, Canada & the Calgary Stampede. There were many family camping trips. Grandma enjoyed tea parties with friends & especially with niece Laurie Good Olds of Fir Island.
She volunteered at the hospital and " worked" every Thursday at the HillCrest Park dance. She was blessed with good health all of her life until in her 90's. She beat cancer and survived a broken hip & surgery at the age of 99.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents; her siblings, Wm. A Elanor, Betty, Carol & Jeanne. Also, her husband's, daughter in law, Billie M. Wilms, a stepdaughter MaryAnn Brown, & a step granddaughter Josie, nephew Loren & niece Sandy and beloved friend Lowell Farmer.

She is survived by her son Earl Wilms, grandson Dale Wilms (Jay) of Mt. Vernon, granddaughter, Dana Moon (Rick) of Arlington, great grandchildren Travis & Nathan Moon of Sedro Woolley, Jeremy Wilms (Amanda) of Monroe & Sarah Wilms of Seattle. Her great great grandchild is Mitchell Wilms of Arlington. Mary also has stepsons Tom & Don Good of Ca. And many nieces, nephews & step grandchildren.

She has been laid to rest with her beloved grandmother P.J. In the Mt. Vernon Cemetary. Memorials can be made to the Skagit Valley Historical Society or the HillCrest Park in Mt. Vernon.