Obituary: Kilmer-Wieber, Mary Ellen (Fry)
Age 96
The oldest of four children, she was born on December 8, 1917, to David A. and Grace Hogan Fry.
She attended Roosevelt Grade School and graduated from Marycliff High School in 1936 prior to enrolling at Spokane Junior College.
Mary Ellen worked as secretary to the Manager of the Crescent Department Store before moving with her parents and sister to California where her father was employed during World War II.
Mary Ellen returned with her family to Spokane after the war where she later met Joseph G. Kilmer, Jr., on a blind date.
They married on August 28, 1947, and had four children during their 33 years of marriage.
After all the children were in school, Mary Ellen started working at the family hardware store, Kilmer & Sons Co. Joe Kilmer passed away in May of 1981, and Mary Ellen continued to work at the store until it closed in 1994.
In 1983, Mary Ellen met George H. Wieber on a group pilgrimage tour to Rome with Bishop Welsh.
They were married on August 20, 1988, and enjoyed their life together until George’s death in March of 2008.
Mary Ellen is survived by two daughters, Katie Grant and her husband, Josh, of Wilbur, WA and Janie Kilmer of Spokane; two sons, Joe Kilmer III of Spokane and Bill Kilmer of San Diego, CA; three grandchildren, Martha Amrine (Brett), Sara Grant and Frederick Grant (Erika); four great-grandchildren; and sister-in-law Mabel Fry of Bellevue, WA.
She was preceded in death by her sister, Jane DeGagne, and her brothers, William “Bud” Fry and Warren Fry.
Mary Ellen’s family would like to thank the staff of the Courtyard at Rockwood South for the excellent care she received from them while she was a resident there.
A Rosary will be recited on Sunday, April 6, at 4 pm at Hennessey Smith Funeral Home.
A funeral Mass will be celebrated on Monday, April 7, at 10 am at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Lourdes.
Interment will follow at noon at Holy Cross Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Mary Ellen’s name to Catholic Charities, PO Box 2253, Spokane, WA 99210-2253.