Obituary: Hollenback, Allene
Age 97
HOLLENBACK,
Allene
Was born on February 10, 1915 to Lillie Mae and Tyre Blaine Panther in Murphy, North Carolina, the third of seven children.
Her family moved to the Inland Northwest seeking new opportunities during the Great Depression, where she graduated high school, then studied to be a beautician, worked as a sales clerk and telephone operator.
In the late 1930s she and her cousin double dated with brothers, Orville and Mark Hollenback.
Although initially paired with Orville, Allene found herself more interested in Mark.
They married in 1938 in her parent’s home in Spokane Valley.
Their life-long partnership produced three daughters, Marlene, Jean and Cheri and a number of successful business enterprises starting with a Texaco service station on the corner of Trent and Argonne, then Hollenback Nash, Rambler and Jeep on east Trent, moving to Hollenback Motors on East Sprague and culminating in Dishman Dodge, which continues under family direction on the corner of Sprague and Park.
Her proudest accomplishment was that of her family, which now includes her daughters, a son-in-law, six grandchildren, seven great-grand- children and numerous granddogs.
Allene contributed thousands of hours to the Valley Hospital Auxiliary.
She was also an accomplished seamstress, and baker, producing blue-ribbon cinnamon rolls.
She enjoyed handicrafts and was a talented fiber-artist both with a crochet hook and knitting needles.
Her work with her flowers always made her home a showplace.
In the mid-1980s, Mark and Allene designed and built their dream retirement home on their Coeur d’Alene summer property along the Spokane River.
This setting provided a perfect backdrop for many multigenerational gatherings.
It also gave her access to the river for a new-found passion for fishing and hummingbird watching.
It was also in this setting where she discovered her love of Mariners baseball and Gonzaga basketball (Go Zags!).
Allene went to join Mark with our Lord on October 2, 2012 after a lengthy illness.
She was able to remain in her home through the services of a number of loving caregivers she came to know through Family Home Care and Hospice.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her sisters, Nellie Unicume, Marilyn (Jo) Smith, brother, Wallace (Wally) Panther, and spouse of 67 years, Mark Hollenback.
She is survived by her sisters, Norma Lee Hildebrand, Gladys (Robert) Stelzer, and Vivian Hatherly; daughters Marlene Hollenback of Spokane Valley, Jean (Larry) Leach of Spokane and Cheri Hollenback of Coeur d’Alene; grandchildren Delene (Carl) Christian, Lori Stelzer, Mark Waltermire, Jeri Lynn (Rick) Campbell, Matthew (Robyn) Waltermire and Denielle (Shane) Stuhlmiller; and great-grandchildren, Kent, Cadee and Rebecca Christian, Jeffery and Jessica Stelzer, Samantha Jo Waltermire and Dane Stuhlmiller as well as many, much-loved nieces and nephews.
A celebration of her life will be held on October 6, 2012 at 1:00 PM, at Spokane Valley Baptist Church, 1222 South McDonald Road, Spokane Valley, Washington.
A reception will immediately follow at the church.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests those wishing to honor her memory consider donating to Hospice of North Idaho, 9493 N. Government Way, Hayden, ID, 83835 (http://www.honi.org/).
Please visit www.hazenjaegervalley.com to share online memories with the family.