Mary Jane Irwin
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| March 4, 1916 ~ June 8,
2011 |
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June 18, 2011 |
 Mary
Jane (Chappell) Irwin passed away on June 8,
2011, at her home in Kirkland, Washington.
Celebration of Mary Irwin’s life here on earth
will be at 3 p.m. Saturday, June 25, at United
Methodist Church, with interment following in
Grandview Cemetery.
Momma was born in Burleigh County, North Dakota.
She was born the middle child of eight children
to Claude W. and Shirley Welch Chappell. The
family moved to Kingsbury County, South Dakota,
in Momma’s adolescent years. God, siblings,
school, and horses were the focus of Momma’s
youth. Momma always had the gift to memorize
poetry and stories and shared that gift by
reciting to family and friends to the end of her
life here on earth.
Momma married Daddy, William Story Irwin,
November 11, 1933. Their honeymoon was a move to
North Idaho. Momma raised five children;
William, James, Austin, Ernest, and Jennifer.
Momma was talented at all aspects of homemaking.
Caring for her family, cooking, baking, and
crafting kept Momma always busy. If there was a
new craft, Momma would take a hand at it. Her
hand work and sewing were gifts to many. She
made wedding dresses, wedding cakes, Canadian
sweaters, and cowboy shirts, you name it.
Momma worked beside Daddy at keeping the farm
and the furniture/floor covering store they had
from 1952-1984. After selling their business,
Momma was the Evergreen School cook for several
years. She loved the kids and took joy in having
warm brownies ready for the kids as they got off
the school bus.
Momma was a 50 year member of Rebeccas, a member
of Eastern Star, Royal Neighbors, and the Senior
Center, where she was the treasurer for years.
Daddy and Momma were charter members of the
Methodist church. Later years they took joy in
being active in the Community Church.
In 1991, Momma sold the family farm on the North
Bench, where she'd lived since 1946. Momma moved
to a comfortable mobile home in Sunset Mobile
Home Park. She so much enjoyed her close friends
in the park. Momma was always on the go. She’d
leave home for the Senior Center at 9 a.m. and
hopefully would be home by 2 p.m. for a nap. For
years she loved being a Senior Companion.
In 2006, Momma moved to Kirkland to be with
daughter, Jennifer, and her husband, Glenn.
There she spent time visiting grandchildren and
great grandchildren. Momma became a special
friend to the neighborhood children. They called
her Mrs. Mary and made special gifts for her, as
she would share stories with them about when she
grew up as a little girl.
In 2009 Momma moved to an Adult Family Home in
Kirkland. She was fairly independent and
continued to visit family. Momma never went out
of her room without her hair and make-up
perfect. Momma said to the end “I can’t give
up." Until the last week, she needed to get
something done. “What will we feed everyone?” “I
can help you with that,” “Let’s get it done and
in a hurry."
Momma was preceded in death by her mother,
father, four sisters, two brothers, husband
William, beloved son Ernest, and four
great-grandchildren.
Momma leaves behind a sister, four children,
four daughters in law, one son in law, 17
grandchildren, 42 great grandchildren, seven
great great-grandchildren, numerous nieces,
nephews, and friends who will miss her dearly.
We rejoice in the promise we will meet in that
great home faraway with Jesus.
Memorials instead of flowers may be given to the
Seattle Children’s Cystic Fibrosis Research:
Seattle Children’s Hospital Foundation Cystic
Fibrosis Research PO Box 5371 MS S200 Seattle,
WA 98145-5005. |
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