Mary Ellen Davis-Devore

Wasilla resident Mary Ellen DeVore, 88, died Nov. 15, 2010. A celebration of her life is May 15, 2011, in her beloved hometown of Lind, Wash.

She was born Sept. 12, 1922, in Wilson Creek, Wash., to A.B. Davis and Oma Gilman.

Always adventuresome, Mary Ellen moved to Wasilla at the youthful age of 80 in order to enjoy the Last Frontier. Enjoy it she did, traveling all over Alaska with her children, reading to kindergarten students at a local elementary school and baking cookies for the EMT staff at the Wasilla Fire Department, as well as for teachers in Bush Alaska. Mary Ellen was loved by everyone she met.

A member of the Mat-Su Gardening Club and Christ First United Methodist Church, she enjoyed socializing, riding the Mystery Train each fall, turning the soil at her little apartment, writing with her fellow retirement community neighbors and making wine. All remember her best for her cooking, work ethic, commitment to her children and love for travel.

As a child, Mary Ellen loved the drama classes at her high school in Lind. She had dreamed of becoming a stewardess and instead married a farmer (who wanted to be a comedian). Lloyd George, her high school sweetheart, and Mary Ellen celebrated nearly 60 years together, had six children, fostered another, and for more than 20 years the family managed a wheat farm. When they moved to town in the fall of 1966, Mary Ellen worked at Lamb-Weston in Connell. She juggled three Lind school jobs at a time — bus driver, cook and janitor — and ran the DeVore motels. Loving to cook and feed everyone, Mary Ellen bought the Golden Grain Café, where for nearly 15 more years she fed her family (her grandchildren loved going to Grandma’s restaurant), residents of her hometown, Adams County, Eastern Washington and all the tourists in between.

She attained her stewardess goal by traveling everywhere, usually with her children and grandchildren, including trips to Spain, Rome, Ireland, Mexico, Panama, Morocco, Italy, the Caribbean, Hawaii, Canada, transcontinental train trips, and she cruised all over the Pacific and Gulf Coast. She commemorated her 75th birthday by parasailing in Cancun, Mexico.

Mary Ellen was known for embracing life in everything she did — leaving a positive impression upon all of those people whose lives she touched. Throughout her life her joys were her pets — especially Pepper Pot — her family, friends, cooking, gardening, gambling, traveling, reading, crossword puzzles, board/card games and laughter. Always a risk-taker, she left her home of 70 years in eastern Washington and ventured to the Last Frontier, where she remained for eight years, before passing surrounded by three of her children and three of the most compassionate caregivers in the world — Tatyana, Tawni and Vera — a trio of workers who gave Mary Ellen the respect and dignity one wished for all mothers of the world.

Returning full circle to her dramatic high school days, Mary Ellen was true to her word: “I came into this world a redhead, and I’m going out a redhead.”

“Thanks to Marilu of Hairport, who visited Mom weekly the last six weeks of Mary Ellen’s life,” the family wrote. “Mary Ellen was frequently heard to say to her doctor, her minister and many others, ‘I am blessed. I have children who love me, I have led a good life and I have traveled the world. I am damn lucky!’

“Mary Ellen Davis-DeVore will be greatly missed.”

She is survived by Pepper Pot, her beloved Pomeranian and Black Jack Valentine, the cat; sons, Gary, Bradley and foster son, Richard Littlebear; daughters, Barbara, Janice, Frances and Anita; daughter-in-law Sheirwin Caldwell; 20 grandchildren; 39 great-grandchildren (plus one on the way); and five great-great-grandchildren. She is also survived by brother, David and wife Betty Davis DeVore; in-laws, Ken, Lola and Louise; and dozens of nieces, nephews, and all of their mates.

She was preceded in death by her parents, A.B. Davis and Oma Gilman Davis; husband, Lloyd George DeVore; and grandchildren, Gretchen Ellis, Christopher Walls and Daniel Lynn Henderson.

In lieu of flowers, it was Mary Ellen’s hope that you would give food and/or financial donations in her name to the local food bank of your choice. To further honor her wishes, attend the celebration of Mary Ellen’s life in Lind, Wash., May 15, 2011. Mark your calendar now and plan to help celebrate Mary Ellen’s life!