Mary M Talley

Passed away unexpectedly on Monday, November 28th. Mary was born in Seattle, Washington on November 30th 1949 to Jorn E Schafer and Katherine Elizabeth (Meister) Schafer. She met her husband Joseph Talley in Bellevue, Washington in 1969. It was love at first sight, and they were married in June of 1971. Joe and Mary moved to Spokane, Washington where Joe attended SCC and later worked for Boise Cascade. In October of 1974 their first child Jason was born. In 1979 the family moved to Forks, Washington where, in July of that year, they were blessed with their second child Elizabeth. The family returned to Spokane later that year when Joe took a job at Kaiser Aluminum. Mary began volunteering at Trentwood elementary in 1983, and became an employee of East Valley School District soon after. She went on to hold many jobs while at East Valley including custodian and reading para-educator. Mary was an active member in the Public School Employee union, holding many offices including that of President from 1997 to 2007. Later in life she enjoyed volunteering for Spokane Valley Meals on Wheels, gardening, cooking, and camping with family and friends, but most of all she loved spending time with her grandchildren RJ and Kate. Mary was an avid reader and could often be found enjoying a sunny day with a glass of lemonade sitting on her beautiful new patio watching the world go by. Mary gave selflessly to others and found no greater joy than that of helping her family, her friends and even strangers. Mary loved and was loved by many and will be greatly missed. She is preceded in death by her parents. She is survived by her husband of 40 years Joseph; her son Jason (Anne), grandchildren RJ and Kate of Atlanta, Georgia, her daughter Elizabeth of Spokane Valley, siblings Bill (Julie) Schafer of Duvall, Washington, John Schafer of Olympia, and Karen Ducan of Colville, Brothers and sisters in-law Jerry (Jan) Talley of Ritzville and Karen Christy (Mike Dingman) of Spokane Valley, and numerous nieces and nephews. A casual gathering of friends and relatives in celebration of Mary's life will be held at CenterPlace at Mirabeau Point Park on Saturday, December 3rd from 3 to 7 PM. All who knew Mary are welcome. In lieu of flowers the family has requested that donations be made to Valley Meals on Wheels at PO Box 14278 Spokane, WA 99214.