Mary Lou (Kaufman) Penhallurick

Beloved mother, Mary Lou (Kaufman) Penhallurick passed away on January 23, 2010. Mary Louise was born in Portland, OR on September 16, 1924 to Nicholas and Laura Kaufman; she was the fourth child of one son and four daughters.

Mary Lou never forgot her humble beginning where she lived with her foster family, Herman and Anna Kuhnke, until leaving for college. In her high school years she loved earning money picking hops and boysenberries. She attended Walla Walla College studying music until meeting and marrying her first husband, Edward Bowen who passed away shortly after their marriage.

Mary Lou’s first introduction to husband-to-be Richard Penhallurick was in Portland at a wedding when he approached her and asked if this was where they start kissing the bride. They were married in 1946 at the Chapel of The Bells in Portland, OR, moving then to her husband’s birth home, Moses Lake, WA. She learned to love the desert sky and climate, tolerate the wind and found a deep love for gardening.

Mary Lou was passionate about music. She filled her home with music, singing, playing the piano and even beginning violin. She loved teaching music at the Moses Lake Adventist School, orchestrating Christmas and Spring Concerts. She loved art; she would paint backdrops for the Concerts and continued on to teach art at Crestview Christian School until the day before her passing. She loved to be involved in her Church; she led the Adventist Church Choir, loved creating the floral arrangements and holiday decorating.

Mary Lou loved helping people. She felt that if she could make their life better, make them feel better and make them feel they had worth; that is what she was here to do. One of her favorite sayings was, “What would Jesus do”.

Mary Lou and her husband paved the way for Moses Lake to host Japanese youth and their families as volunteers in Moses Lake for over 20 years. It gave her great joy to be able to visit many of these friends in Japan this past October.

Mary Lou was a loving mother and grandmother. She is survived by her sister Merita Keene of Amboy, WA; son Richard and wife Rene’ Penhallurick, Jr., of Moses Lake, WA; daughter Louise and husband Alden Olmsted of Moses Lake, WA; daughter Lynette and husband Gregory Hall of Carmichael, CA; six grandchildren, Richie, Tiffany, Jorge, Maya and Daija Johnson and Jordan. She is preceded in death by her parents, one brother, two sisters and husband, Richard Penhallurick.

In lieu of flowers, Mary Lou would appreciate contributions be sent to 3ABN (3 Angels Broadcasting Network)

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, January 27, 2010 at Crestview Christian School, 1601 West Valley Road, Moses Lake, WA.

Arrangements are in care of Kayser’s Chapel & Crematory, Moses Lake. Viewing will take place at the funeral home on Tuesday, January 26th from noon until 7:00 p.m. and at the school on Wednesday from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the service. You may sign the guestbook or leave a note for the family at www.kayserschapel.com