Marylin ‘Mary’ Lea Olson-Thomas, 74

Marylin “Mary” Lea Olson-Thomas passed away peacefully on the morning of Dec. 9, 2017. She was born on Aug. 10, 1943, in Hermiston, Ore., to Wayne and Erma Olson. Erma married Fred H. Thomas II in 1945, and Mary assumed his name.

Mary attended grade schools in Hermiston, Boardman, and Heppner, Ore. She attended high school in both Heppner, Ore., and graduated from Pendleton High School in 1961. She graduated from Blue Mountain Community College in 1986, with an associates degree in human services, and received her office specialist certificate in 1999, from Chemeketa College.

Mary married Terry Lynn Reeve on June 28, 1963; they were divorced in November, 1974. They had four children, Evonne, Dianne, David and Sandy.

Early in her career, Mary worked as a nurse’s aide and medicine aide. She later worked for the RSVP, Pregnancy Care Services, Pendleton Police Department, and Meadowwood Speech Camp as a receptionist/secretary.

She was a member of First Christian Church, in Pendleton, Ore., and served in many capacities there. Her church was where she loved to spend her time in later years. She transferred to First Baptist Church in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, when she moved there in 2013 to be closer to her family. She was the assistant to the Chaplain at the Chapel at Orchard Grove, which she greatly enjoyed. Her children were most important to her and she loved them deeply. She loved to knit. She was a beautiful poet and had several poems published, and was a member of the Honorary Poet Society.

She was a member of Bushee #19 of Eastern Star and a member of the Sweet Adelines. She was a Rainbow Girl and a member of the Daughters of American Revolution, in Pendleton, Ore.

Mary is survived by her children, daughter, Evonne Cada and husband Rod (Newport, Wash.); daughter, Dianne Reeve (Houston, Texas); son, David Reeve (Spokane, Wash.) and daughter, Sandy Powers (Coeur d’Alene); sisters, G-Ann Thomas and Marjorie Larson; brothers, Fred H. Thomas III and John Thomas. She was the proud grandmother of 10 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by brother, Wesley Thomas; mother, Erma Thomas and father, Fred H. Thomas II.

A memorial service will be held at noon on Friday, Dec. 15, 2017, at First Baptist Church, located at Fourth Street and Wallace Avenue, in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.

She asked that donations in lieu of flowers to be sent to Breast Cancer Awareness and Diabetes Research Foundation.

Yates Funeral Home is entrusted with services.