Mary E. Pruss

A child of the King, Mary left this world on December 10, 2016. She now dwells in the house of the Lord, forever and ever. Born in Decatur, IL, on March 8, 1930, in the farmhouse her father built, Mary joined a growing brood, which would eventually number 14 brothers and sisters: Walter, William, Paul, Fred, Raymond, Robert, John, Margaret, Betty, Esther, Hilda, Alma, and Helen. Growing up during the Great Depression, Mary and her siblings had to work both on and off the farm to help in the support of the family, even more so, after her father died when she was still a teenager with a number of younger siblings. Thus was developed in Mary a work ethic and compassionate spirit that persisted throughout her life. At age 18, she married World War ll veteran and college student, Heinz Pruss, and in 1955, after the completion of his education, they moved west, settling first in Oregon before moving to Wenatchee in 1957. There they raised their four boys: Gerald, David, Jim, and Steve. Mary is survived by five siblings; her sons; daughters-in-law; eight grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren, for whom she prayed daily. She worked for the Wenatchee School District from 1966 to 1999, retiring at age 69, only to continue working until age 79 at Colonial Vista. Over the years, work in her "spare time" included caring for children of friends who worked, helping out or running The Little Brick Cafe when the owners were out of town or needed a break, being a mom to sibling foster children, Dale and Sandy for a year, and being on the line sorting fruit in the packing sheds. Unfortunately, dementia eventually debilitated Mary and she spent most of the last four years of her life in memory care facilities. She was visited by Western Washington and Oregon-based extended family as time and travel allowed. Second son, Dave, was a devoted and nearly daily companion, attending to her physical, emotional, spiritual, intellectual, and enrichment needs, and daughter-in-law, Lori, frequently came alongside to provide a womanly touch and perspective. Mary passed away at Dave's home in East Wenatchee, WA, where she spent the last month of her life. On December 10, 2016, family members assisted Mary on the road to heaven with hymns, scripture, and prayer, until the angels of the Lord took her by the hand to complete her journey to the City of Gold. A public viewing will be held 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Friday, December 16, 2016, at Telford's Chapel of the Valley, East Wenatchee, WA. A family gathering, and interment beside her husband, will be held at 11:15 a.m. on Wednesday, December 21, 2016, at Tahoma National Cemetery in Kent, WA. In remembrance of Mary and her giving spirit, memorial donations may be made to one of her favorite charitable organizations, Samaritan's Purse. Arrangements are by Telford's Chapel of the Valley, East Wenatchee, WA.

Mary E. Pruss

March 8, 1930 - December 10, 2016