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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Obituary: Maher, Betty

MAHER, Betty

Betty Maher (3/22/1916-5/15/2012) was born in Seattle, the second of three daughters known as the Downey Girls.

The eldest was Vivian Winston and the youngest Jean Day.

When they were still little girls, their father Jay built a log cabin all by himself at Indianola Beach across Puget Sound from Seattle.

Their Norwegian mother Nora taught in a one room schoolhouse in Indianola, having her three daughters in the same class.

Nora and Jay separated, and Nora showed the strength and independent spirit that came to be seen in all three daughters, raising them all on her own and providing them a good life.

Betty attended Roosevelt High School and the University of Washington.

She got a job as a lab technician and nutritionist at Harborview Hospital where she met Robert C. Maher doing his residency in medicine.

On their first date Bob took Betty skating with friends, and after Bob got her on the end of a crack the whip Betty thought she’s had it with this guy.

Bob realized what a treasure he had found in Betty and persisted.

They were married in a simple ceremony in Seattle September 2, 1941.

Shortly after the December attack on Pearl Harbor, Bob enlisted as an Army medic and was stationed in the South Pacific.

On his return Bob and Betty lived in several towns in Washington and Oregon, wherever Bob could practice.

They had chickens in Alma, with little chicks running around the house, and sheep that broke out of their pen that Betty had to chase after.

Betty had four children, Robert Peter (Pete), Stephen, Michael, and Mary Theresa (Tracy).

The family finally settled in Spokane.

Bob was a Catholic.

Betty kept her own private faith.

She volunteered with the Spokane Mental Health Clinic and The Camp Fire Girls.


She loved being with people and had a lot of friends.

She was part of the Broad’s Investment Club as well as a book club.

She kept up with the book club until a few years ago.

She still met with her Broad Investment Club over lunch at Manito Country Club through last year.

Seemingly mild, she was tough underneath.

Betty was someone you could trust in, someone who made anyone feel accepted and a friend.

She was an eternal optimist and never let things get her down.

She had integrity and honesty and brought up her children with those values.

As the infirmities of old age caught up with her, she faced everything with an indomitable spirit.

No matter what it was, she was “fine”.
She loved her years at Spirit Lake with all the family around.

She loved to swim, in the lake as well as in the green waters of Maui.

Even up to seven years ago she would sit reading on the beach in Hawaii, then, even if there were red flags warning swimmers of dangerous surf, she would put her bathing cap on and say “I’m ready for my swim”.

The rough waves would toss her upside down but she’d pop her head up out of the water laughing and keep going until she got out to the smoother warm waters to have her swim.

When she no longer swam, she would sit out on her patio for hours looking down at the shimmer of Spirit Lake.

She loved to travel too.

She and Bob went all over the world, Bob striding ahead with Betty in tow, from the cathedrals of Europe to vine bridges and headhunter villages in the Highlands of New Guinea.

From Mexico to Singapore, from the Masai of Kenya to the Taj Mahal to skiing in the Alps, Bob and Betty were filled with the fun of life.
Betty is survived by her four children, 10 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren with another one due in September.

She will be greatly missed.
Funeral services will be held at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church June 2 at 11am.

Donations may be made in her honor to Women Helping Women and to Hospice of Spokane.