Obituary: Newkirk, Mary Lou
Mary was born in Woodward, Oklahoma on August 22, 1934 to Les and Frances Hand.
The family left Oklahoma in 1937 and traveled to California eventually settling in Oregon.
Mary graduated from Umapine High School in 1952.
After high school, Mary moved to Walla Walla, WA and went to work at Sears in the billing department.
Mary and Fred Newkirk were married on May 11, 1955 and had three daughters.
The family moved to Spokane, WA in 1960.
Mary worked at various retail jobs while raising her children.
Mary loved her grandchildren, tending her flowers and crocheting.
In later years, she crocheted afghans that are now treasured by friends and family.
Mary also knitted hundreds of dish cloths that she gave to anyone who stopped by the house for a visit.
Each time, we would leave with a bag full of dish cloths.
Mary often said that she didn’t want anyone to run out.
That will not happen for several years.
Mary is survived by her brother, Lyle Hand; daughters, Wanda Madsen, Kathleen Martello and Rebecca Ballou; grand- children, Alicia Demmerly, Erin Newkirk, Justin Martello, Tyler Scharff, Jesse Ballou, Danielle Ballou, Meghan Ballou and eight great-grand- children.
Mary was preceded in death by her husband, Fred Newkirk on February 10, 2011.
The family would like to thank the staff at Brighton Court for the compassionate care Mary received.
There will be a viewing on Tuesday, September 22nd from 3-6pm at Hazen and Jaeger Valley Funeral Home, 1306 N. Pines Road, Spokane Valley.
A celebration of life will also be held at Hazen and Jaeger Valley on Wednesday, September 23rd at 10:00am followed by a committal service at the Queen of Peace Cemetery in Spokane, WA.