May Belle Koether

May Belle Jeffery Koether May Belle was born in Hamilton County, Texas to William Jesse Jeffery and Pearlie Luvinia Leach on March 20, 1918. She and her 3 sisters and brother helped out on the Central Texas farm where they lived. She became a dental assistant and then married Willie Koether. They moved to Clifton, Texas where Willie became a Shoe Maker and Upholsterer. They had one son, Billie Glen Koether. During WW II, she worked in a bomb factory, driving a tractor that pulled the bomb loads. When the war was over, she began college and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Sul Ross College in Alpine, Texas. (It was also the Alma Mater of "Hoss Cartright" at that time). She began teaching in Texas and then moved to Coulee City, Washington in 1950. She taught there and then in Coulee Dam, Chelan and finally in East Wenatchee in 1956. In summers she earned a Master's Degree from WSU. She taught Business at Eastmont and at Wenatchee Valley College until her retirement. May Belle contracted to have a house built. A German exchange teacher stayed with her and they became lifelong friends. After her retirement she worked at the YMCA and at Highline Care Centers. She acquired acreage near the airport and contracted another house. She traveled to Europe and visited her friend in Germany. She put in an orchard and farmed it for several years. She even drove her own Ford tractor. She became the "cake lady" for an Orthopedic Guild (Childrens Hospital). She picked up the newly frosted cakes and distributed them to various places of business in the Wenatchee Valley and then picked up the cake money for Children's Hospital. She taught English to an Asian family and a Russian family that had come to the Valley. She loved animals and dog shows and had chickens and dogs of her own. During these years she became a grandmother, with two grand daughters (Kathryn and Kristine), four great-grand daughters (Angela, Krista, Delice and Kimberly) and a great-great grandson (Jayson). She loved the Wenatchee Valley and the people here. She passed away at Highline on January 21, 2013 at the age of 94. Her memorial service will be at Telford's Chapel on Tuesday, January 29, 2013 at 1:30PM. If you want to give a memorial, please send it to Children's Hospital in Seattle. Arrangements are by Telford's Chapel of the Valley, East Wenatchee, WA

May Belle Koether

March 20, 1918 - January 21, 2013