Mary Ellen Friehauf

Mary Ellen (Ford) Friehauf, age 96, passed away May 1st into the hands of her Savior and Lord Jesus Christ at the Summitview Healthcare Center of Living Care in Yakima, Wash. She was born December 31, 1919 to Irvin Loren Ford and Jessie (Ives) Ford in Marion, Iowa where she was raised and graduated from Marion High School in 1938. She was active in sports and played the clarinet in the school band. She also played the piano throughout her life. In May 1942 she graduated from Coe College, Cedar Rapids, Iowa with a BA degree majoring in Sociology. She was a member of Alpha Gamma Delta sorority and Women's Rifle Team.

Following graduation she worked in the social welfare field in Cedar Rapids, Iowa for three years until joining the American Red Cross during the World War II era in 1945. Sent to Washington D.C. for American Red Cross indoctrination in April 1945, she witnessed President Franklin D. Roosevelt's funeral procession and a parade of many military units, bands and dignitaries. From there she was sent to Camp Fannin, Tyler, Texas as a Red Cross hospital social worker. Here she met and married her husband, 1st Lieutenant Will Friehauf of the Army Dental Corps on March 11, 1946. Two weeks later he was sent to Japan and she worked for the Union Pacific Railroad in Portland, Oregon as a clerk typist. After his return from service in Japan, they settled in Yakima, Wash. in March 1947 to establish his dental practice and have lived here ever since, raising four children: Gregory, Norman, Nancy and Bradley. Her greatest accomplishment in life was raising her children and her greatest joy was her family.

She was a homemaker and a charter member and past deacon of Westminster Presbyterian Church, long time former member of Woman’s Century Club, as well as a member of Chapter DS of PEO from 1958 to 2004. She also enjoyed membership in Rosalma Club from 1992 to 2014 and also worked on election boards. In 1963, she was named the “Queen of the Kitchen” at the Yakima Central Washington Fair as top ribbon holder in all culinary categories. She went on to become the Superintendant of Fabric and Yarn Arts.

Her hobbies included making and hand quilting nearly 50 quilts, wall hangings and nursery quilts over the years. She was always thankful her mother taught her the use of needles for hand and machine sewing, knitting, crocheting, embroidery and counted cross-stitch as it provided wonderful leisure times and a source of much pleasure.

Other interests were golfing at Westwood and Sun Tides Golf Clubs, and always entertaining bridge friends and especially family gatherings anytime. Special highlights were her memorable trips to Hawaii, England, Alaska and the New England cruises.

Another endeavor has been searching into her family heritage and genealogy tracing her ancestors back to the 1700’s, charting graphs, depicting each family lineage with dates and names.

She is survived by her husband, Dr. Will Friehauf. They celebrated their 70th Anniversary March 11, with their children. She is survived by three sons, one daughter, five grandchildren and four great grandchildren: Gregory Friehauf, wife Mary Jane Friehauf, their two children Gregory Jr. and Mary Elizabeth (husband Ben Moore), and their one child Anna Elizabeth. Norman Ford Friehauf, wife Tammy Friehauf, one child Rachel (husband Bryan Smith), their children Caleb, Nathaniel and Noah. Bradley Friehauf, wife Jeannie Friehauf, their two children Matthew and David. One daughter, Nancy K. Friehauf. She is also survived by one sister, Frances Ford Carr (husband James Carr) and a niece, Anne Jacobs.

She was preceded in death by an infant brother, Norman in 1918, her mother in 1954, her father in 1980, her sister, Dorothy Jacobs in 2010 and a niece, Mary Taylor in 2012.

A private family service will be held at a later date.

The family wishes to express their heartfelt thanks for the compassionate care given to Mary over the last year by the dedicated staff at Summitview Healthcare Center of Living Care.

Happy heavenly Mother’s Day, Mom. We miss you and love you. You will always have a special place in our hearts that only you can fill. We know we will be reunited again.

Till the end of time, long as roses bloom in May, our love for you will grow deeper with every passing day.