Mary Kent Obituary (2023)

Mary Colleen Kent, age 88, passed away in Kirkland, WA on December 20, 2023 December 20,2023 Mary Colleen Miller Kent passed. A short three months ago she was diagnosed with lung cancer, despite being a nonsmoker and not being exposed to asbestos the two leading causes of lung cancer. The family has learned that nearly 20% of lung cancer occurs in nonsmokers. Mary Colleen Miller was born January 2, 1935, in Ogden Utah. She was the 4th of 5 children: Ted, JB, Ada Joyce, Mary Colleen and Shanna. Her mother, Grace, always created beautiful surroundings for her children, even though the depression was roaring around them. Mary Colleen and Shanna picked string beans and cherries for their spending money, while their mother worked as an instructor in a beauty school to support her children and mother-in-law. Colleens Grandma Miller, took mom to the Seventh Day Adventist Church on Saturdays and the family attended Latter Day Saint (Mormon) worship on Sundays. It was during this time in Mary Colleens life that she picked up her thrift store / junking bug. Shanna and she skipped school and rode the bus to Salt Lake City and purchased a golden statue from the Salt Lake City Salt Palace, Amelia. Amelia is a cherished treasure still in our familys possession. Both of Mary Colleens brothers served in World War II and survived; Uncle Ted was a Pearl Harbor survivor. Grandma Grace became one of the thousands of women drafted into the war effort. Mom, Colleen, fondly told memories of work during this time at Farr Better Ice Cream. She returned through the decades to taste test. Mom loved real honest food. Fresh fruit, vegetables, roast beef and crunchie french bread. Mary Colleen graduated from Utah State University in Logan, Utah, with degrees in Speech and Hearing Correction, and Theater. She was active in the Thespian club, which developed into a lifelong passion. At graduation she received three job offers, one in California, one in New York, and one for the White Swan School District. She had friends in the lower Yakima Valley, and thought it sounded like a lovely name for a town. It remained her home until her death, and she often said she loved her surroundings. In 1958, at 23 years of age, Mom bought a bus ticket to Toppenish and took a taxi down the unpaved road to her new apartment in White Swan to begin her teaching career. Miss Miller taught 5th grade. She remembers breaking up 1 fight, which in retrospect was dumb as she only stood 5 feet 4 inches on a good day. She met Dad in front of the White Swan post office, he was also on the school board. In May of 1959 Grandma and Grandpa Grace and "Scotty" Stanford and Grandma April Kent witnessed their marriage at the justice of the peace in the Yakima County Court House. Colleen and Harry were married for 42 years until Harrys death in October, 2001, and Colleen taught in the district for 30 years leading classes from kindergarten through high school, and spanning multiple generations. Colleen had so many interests and hobbies, and a wonderful sense of humor some people thought she hid it well. She said the that three best things in her life were her marriage to Harry, her children (Jana, Hal, and Patrice), and her "kids" from school. She loved teaching the alphabet as the class ate their way through it: A= Apple B= Beef C=Chocolate L=Lobster. Her "kids" often stopped Mrs. Kent to say hello and to let her know what they were up to. After she retired, she continued to work on after school programs and alternative education methods. Colleens commitment to education opportunities included her work with and for Heritage College up to and through it becoming an accredited University here at home on the Yakama Reservation. She was on the Board of Directors for several years. The college thespian remained active, and she was often cast in shows at the Warehouse Little Theatre. The Fantastics, Merry Wives of Windsor, Romeo and Juliet (she was the nurse), and most recently The Crucible, are a few among many. Harry and the children were not always "theatre buffs", but sat in the audience and enjoyed each scene. Mom also wrote a short musical about a notable woman from White Swan, Emma Robbins. Living on a working cattle ranch was not what she expected to do, nor was it her calling but she loved Harry and he loved cattle and horses, so she embraced the life. She laughed that it was quite easy to talk to horse people, all one had to do was ask about the withers and the horse lover went on for hours about conformation and preferences. She rode, she chased cows, she caught and saddled her own horse, she took the call from Colin Johnson that dads pigs were out and rooting up the county road. She found the tragic humor of being in the livestock business. One huge part of Harrys, and therefore Colleens, life was polo. There was an active community of polo players in the pacific northwest, and Harry was in the middle of it. The Lawrences, Fosters, Shearers, Hitchcocks, and others embraced the families love of horses and competition. There was seldom a late spring through early fall weekend that did not see hosting or traveling for a tournament and all of the related gatherings. These all gave Colleen an opportunity to mention withers and conformation to keep the stories rolling. Her twin interests of education and polo came together at a Heritage College meeting of the Board when they were discussing how to raise more money for the College. Harry was there and said "lets put on a polo tournament". Despite her misgivings, the Board and community came together including George and Mary Jane Colby, Nibbs and Donna Menard, Kip and Lyndia Ramsey, led by the always fearless College President Sister Kathleen and put on a very successful decade of fund-raising polo in White Swan, with all of the accoutrements! Live music, seated dinners, dance floor, live auction, silent auction, shopping mall, local businesses players from all over the world all on a mowed cow pasture looking up at Mt. Adams. In addition to everything else, Colleen loved to travel. Whether it was for music, theater, or other kinds of fun, she enjoyed her trips to London, Manhattan, Sydney, New Zealand, Vancouver, Oahu, Seattle, Spokane, Bend, Joseph, Palm Springs or just next door. Colleen was busy to the end arranging projects, gardens, meals. She will be missed. A Memorial Service will be held on Tuesday, January 2, 2023, at 10:00am. Inurnment will be held at Terrace Heights Memorial Park at 2:00pm. Shaw & Sons Funeral Home is caring for the family. Memories and condolences can be shared at www.shawandsons.com. SERVICES Celebration of Life Tuesday, January 02, 2024 10:00 AM Shaw and Sons Funeral Home 201 N 2nd St. Yakima, WA 98901 Tuesday, January 02, 2024 2:00 PM Terrace Heights Memorial Park 3001 Terrace Heights Dr. Yakima, WA 98901