Mary Louise Hinzman

Feb. 3, 1926 – July 4, 2026

Mary Hinzman died quietly on her favorite holiday after living a remarkable 100 years. She grew up through the Great Depression and World War II, earned a college degree, married and raised a family, taught school and kept an open and curious mind as life brought challenges and joy.

She was born in Tekoa, Wash., and grew up in the nearby city of Spokane, the daughter of Dan E. and Ruth (Lawrence) Peterson. She was the youngest of seven children in what was a “blended” family long before the term was common. She was the last living of the brothers and sisters that came together as death took her father’s first wife and then her own mother when Mary was just three weeks old.

Dan Peterson then married the widow of a friend and fellow Union Pacific train conductor, bringing Margaret Craig and her three children into the family. No one ever used the word “step,” only brother and sister, mom and dad.

Her six siblings were, oldest to youngest; Lucille Peterson Cate (Winn); Darrel E. Peterson (Katherine); Ruth Craig Thomas (Howard); Catherine “Katie” Craig Erickson (Harry) Holman (Bob); Leon “Lee” R. Craig (Harriet “Terry”); and Lawrence E. Peterson (Jean).

That loving family bond continued through her lifetime as she celebrated her 100th birthday in February with visits by her children, grand- and great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

She worked for the war effort as a 17-year-old messenger at Fairchild Air Force Base near Spokane after graduating early from high school. She loved music; singing and playing the French horn and piano.

Her father advocated higher education for all his children. She earned a BA from the University of Washington in Seattle, where her brother Lee was attending.

After college, Mary stayed in Seattle working at an insurance agency until mother Margaret was diagnosed with cancer. Mary moved home to Spokane to care for her and earned teaching credentials at what is now Eastern Washington State University in Cheney, Wash.

She met Henry “Hank” Hinzman who knew a friend of hers from college in 1950. He convinced Mary to go out on a kind of blind date. Hank was a veteran and an apprentice electrician.

A wedding was soon set for August 1951, then Margaret died in January 1951. Despite the custom of mourning for a year, father Dan encouraged Mary and Hank to go ahead with their wedding on Aug. 19, 1951. Mary’s niece Karen, brother Darrell’s daughter, was the maid of honor.

Mary taught kindergarten for two years as Hank worked. The couple later moved to California for Hank’s work. Daughter Carol was born there in 1953, son Eric in 1954 and son Kirk in 1960.

Over the years Mary worked and volunteered in her children’s schools as a room mother, Girl Scout troop leader and Boy Scout troop helper. She was a driver and audience for football games, softball games, wrestling matches, driver to campouts and away games, volunteered at the high school library for two to three years, volunteered in the high school attendance office (Carol and Eric were the only kids in school who never cut a class), worked as an assistant in the front office (Carol and Eric had not a chance) and volunteered at the local “continuation” high school for three to four years.

Mary bowled for many decades, sometimes on two to three teams a week, read anything and everything. She loved being outdoors hiking, swimming, boating and gardening. She was creative – sewing and knitting into her 90s – and learning the intricate art of pine needle basketry. She was even an apple packer for a couple of years for a neighbor.

She loved sports, listening to the radio and then watching any baseball team on TV, but always rooting for the San Francisco Giants or the Oakland A’s. She learned clog dancing in her 70s.

At 83, Mary took a cruise to Alaska, fell the first night and broke her wrist. She continued the rest of the cruse in a cast and sling – and they didn’t slow her down at all.

Mary was always kind to and interested in people, willing to try anything new, loved Mexican food and all things chocolate.

She faced heartache with the death her youngest son in 1963 and the loss of her husband in 2008. When her eyesight started to fail in her 70s, she learned Braille and the use of a cane. Mary often traveled by bus on her own. She enjoyed daily walks and lived mostly independent into her 90s.

Mary outlived her parents, six siblings and in-laws, her son, Kirk, and most of her friends. She is survived by daughter Carol Hinzman (Vicki Stockbridge) and son Eric Hinzman (Shirley); grandchildren Charisse, Nathanael, Colson and Clayton; great-grandchildren Troy, Liam, Wilder and Brooks; and many nieces, nephews, grand-nieces their spouses.

No service is planned. Mary’s ashes will be left at some of her favorite places including the ocean.