Mary Louise was born in Seattle, April 28, 1926 to John Raphael Walsh Sr. and Edith Mary Clark Walsh, a Washington State Pioneer family. Her grandparents, John Walsh and Bridget Bedilla Jordan were married in St. Joseph’s Church in Yakima before Washington was a state.
Mary Louise attended St. James Cathedral Grade School and graduated from Holy Names Academy in Seattle. After high school, she attended Seattle University until her marriage to Rolland (Rolly) Heiser on April 27, 1946 at Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church, in Seattle.
Mary Louise and Rolly moved to Chicago where Rolly attended Northern Illinois College of Optometry. In Chicago, Mary Louise worked at the main office of Joslen Supply Co. until the birth of their first child, Chery Louise. After Rolly’s graduation, the young family moved to Yakima, Washington where their son, Bruce Clark, and daughter, Jennie Marie, were born.
Supporting Rolly in his optometric career, Mary Louise was the president of the Yakima Chapter and the Washington State Association of the Women’s Division of the Yakima Society of Optometric Physicians, known as The American Foundation for Vision Awareness. She also served on the Political Action Committee of the American Optometric Association.
Mary Louise was a volunteer at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital as well as the associated St. Gerard’s Guild. She was also a docent for the Friends of Gilbert House. She belonged to the Rosarium Club, Rosalma Club, and the Holy Family Church Altar Guild. Mary Louise spent many happy years playing tennis at the Yakima Tennis Club, and enjoyed playing bridge with dear friends at West Valley Women’s Club as well as her Monday and Thursday Bridge Clubs.
Mary Louise has been living with daughter Jennie for the last 3 years and was able to continue traveling with the family through this past August.
Mary Louise was preceded in death by her parents and stepfather, Roy Alva Noyes as well as her brothers John Raphael Walsh Jr. and Rev. Richard Jordan Walsh. Mary Louise’s husband, Rolly passed away in 2011 after nearly 65 years of marriage.
Mary Louise is survived by her children, Chery Louise Castor (Ray), Sammamish, WA, Bruce Clark Heiser (Karen), Yakima, WA, and Jennie Marie Fouts (J.D.), Olympia, WA. She is also survived by 8 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren and a niece Margyne Heiser Smith and nephew Dennis Heiser both living in Iowa.
Mary Louise is remembered by all who have known her, for her kindness and sweet personality.
A time of visitation is scheduled from 4-8 pm, Thursday, September 20, 2018, at Keith and Keith Funeral Home, 902 W. Yakima Ave., Yakima, WA. A Rosary Vigil will be at 7 pm, that same day, also at Keith and Keith Funeral Home. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:30 am, Friday, September 21, 2018, at Holy Family Catholic Church, Yakima WA. Private burial will be at Terrace Heights Memorial Park.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Boy Scouts of America Grand Columbia Council and/or the Yakima Area Arboretum.
To share a memory of Mary Louise you may go to www.keithandkeith.com
