Mary Cunnington

Mary Cunnington went to be with her Lord, Sunday August 28th, 2011, after a courageous, twelve-year battle with cancer. Holy Rosary will be prayed at Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church at 6 pm on Thursday September 1, 2011. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 1 pm Friday, September 2, 2011 at Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church. Interment will follow at Guarding Angels Cemetery, 2595 Road L N.E. Moses Lake. Viewing will be from 10 am to 4 pm, Wednesday and Thursday, Aug. 31st and Sept.1st at Kayser's Chapel. Arrangements are in care of Kayser's Chapel & Crematory.

She was born in Overland, Mo. September 6th, 1939, to Mary Edith Lindgren and her husband. The family moved to Richland, WA to work at the Hanford project. Mary attended school in the Tri-City area until her family moved to Walla Walla in 1949.

She married the love of her life Donald B. in Lewiston, Idaho in 1955. Mary and Don raised and loved six children, Debra (Chuck) Lumpkin, Dawni (Lance) Williams, Daniel (Linda) Cunnington, Jeanie Cunnington, David (Cheryl) Cunnington and Dyan Ford. Mary loved life, her community but most of all she loved her grandchildren Dylan, David E, Danielle, Dara, Donald B II, Isaac, Jacob, Hailey, Sheena, Kamen and Braxton. Mary also loved all of her great-grandchildren Ariana, Adaleigh, Beckett, Nevon, Kaedyn, Azuriea and Lillian. Mary was preceded in death by her mother, Sister Brenda, and her son Daniel.

Many lives were touched by Mary during her twenty-five years at the Parks and Recreation department in Moses Lake. Her many endeavors included being the proud coach of the Manta Rays, orchestrating the Spring Fling, Community Days, and acting as the voice of the community as the host of the Park and Rec Radio Show. Mary managed Swedberg Pool and in 1995 she helped make the Moses Lake Family Aquatic Center a reality and a success. Mary's deep love of children was also evident by her leadership in community events such as the Hersey track meet, Special Olympics and the generations of children she taught to swim.

After the eruption of Mount Saint Helens, Mary was instrumental in the rescue of many of the travelers affected by the blast. Through her involvement with the American Red Cross she opened the CCD center to house 525 people, providing medication, food, shelter and fun to those in need.

Mary retired from the Parks and Recreation department in 1998 to assist her husband in building their dream cabin in the mountains where the entire family gathers each year to celebrate the holidays.

Mary was deeply involved with her Catholic faith where she taught religious education from 1962-2007.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests a donation be made in Mary's name to the Columbia Basin Cancer Foundation, P.O. Box 1337, Moses Lake, WA 98837, Our Lady of Fatima building fund or Crossroads Pregnancy Resource Center, 1555 S. Pilgrim St., Suite C, Moses Lake, WA 98837. You may record your memories of Mary or leave a note for the family at www.kayserschapel.com.