Mary Kathryn Flood

Mary Kathryn Counter Flood passed away on December 9th, 2013 in Orting, Washington. She was born on May 31st, 1924 in West Yellowstone, Montana to Frederick Earl Counter and Mary Nevin Counter. Mary grew up in Big Timber and West Yellowstone, Montana. She was the youngest of four children, all growing up during the heart of the great depression. We think some of her most meaningful influences are centered on Montana’s hearty and down to earth people, the state’s magnificent beauty and surely the challenging life during those depression years.

Wanting to contribute to the war effort and also see some of the world, Mary enlisted in the Marine Corp soon after high school graduation. Completing administrative training, she was assigned stateside to the marine base at Quantico, Virginia. There she met and fell in love with fellow marine, Warren Kinkaid Flood, and eight year veteran and Pearl Harbor survivor. Mary and Warren were married on December 28th, 1946. Both soon entered civilian life and Mary went to work for the Old Dominion Bank in Arlington, Virginia. Over those years, her three sons were born. In July, 1957 the family moved to Auburn, Washington to be close to Warren’s family. Shortly after Mary found herself a single parent with the sole responsibility of raising her three sons. From somewhere deep down in her Irish, English, and Indian roots, Mary found a well of strength and determination to raise her family. There is no doubt that she lived and taught strong character values, and certainly an absolute and abiding faith in the power of a person to be able to accomplish whatever they truly set their mind to. At times, it was difficult to appreciate but it is clear that it was a gift to her family.

Whatever the young family lacked materially there was always the belief their stories would end well.

After her family was raised, Mary enjoyed a love of travel: trips and residences in Hawaii, Manitoba, and New Zealand. Wherever she went or lived, her love of plants and gardening was obvious. This passion for the earth was well known to her family and neighbors.

Mary is survived by her three sons and their spouses, all of Puyallup: Wayne and Cynthia, James and Carla, Richard and Kathy, nine grandchildren and five great grandchildren.

Mary is preceded in death by her sister, Losee McBride, and her brothers, Richard Counter and Roy Lamoureaux.

Importantly, the family would like to sincerely acknowledge the consistent care, attention, and affection shown to Mary these last three years by the nursing staff of the Washington Soldier’s Home in Orting, Washington. Their professional competence and good cheer were always an inspiration to Mary’s family.