Maria Dunning
October 10, 1928 – November 3, 2016
Maria Dunning, 88 years old, was born Oct. 10, 1928. She departed peacefully in her sleep at home on Nov. 3, 2016.
Maria joined the saints and her beloved husband, by traveling through this life to pass through the gate known as death into her second life – eternal glory with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Maria was born to Otto and Henrietta Timmerman near Hayword, Ore. As a rural working farm girl attending beauty school, she met her future husband Arlo Dunning in church. They married on April 10, 1949 in Forest Grove, Ore. Maria and Arlo were faithful to each other and their Lord unto death.
Maria and Arlo moved to Moses Lake, Wash. in 1950. Always a true worker, Maria managed the family household and raised two boys. Dedicated to confessional Lutheran beliefs, she attended Grace Lutheran in Moses Lake, Christ the Savior Lutheran in George, Wash. and finally the Apostolic Lutheran Church in Moses Lake. She was active in her church and Mary Martha Guild. She greatly contributed to and assisted Arlo in a successful optometry business. Upon retiring from optometry the couple raised cattle and chickens, gardened, purchased and remodeled some of the oldest houses in Odessa, Wash.
Marie was Arlo’s loving wife for 49 years. After his devastating stroke in 1997 she was his steadfast caregiver until he died in 2008. She always showed perseverance, strength of character, and hope. If she feared anything she seldom showed it.
Fish feared her. According to Arlo and sons, she always caught more and bigger fish because she was on the other side of the boat, used different hooks, or had the best rod and reel. Maria was a generous person, never letting the visiting sons leave her house without food, even when they didn’t want it or like it.
Maria is survived by her children Ed Dunning and wife Melissa; Dean Dunning and wife Debbie; grandchildren Allyson (Beau) Keightley, Laura (Brandon) Somerville, Samuel (Stephanie) Dunning, Keenan Dunning, Madelyn Dunning, and Egan Dunning; great-grandchildren Bristol and Aspen Keightley, and Brodie Dunning; nephews and nieces James Dunning, Barbara Jardine, Peggy White, Kara Mantey, Glen and Roy Timmerman and cousin Donna Ott. Extended family includes grandchildren Charolette (Shane) Caldwell, Michaela Langshaw; great-grandchildren Justin, Deborah, and Ashton West and great-great-grandchildren Junior, Galilea and Isiaus Medel.
Memorial services will be held at The Apostolic Lutheran Church, 1475 Nelson Rd NE Suite B Room 206, Moses Lake, Wash., by Rev. Herman J. Williams, Saturday, Nov. 12, 11 am.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Apostolic Lutheran Church.
A special thanks to all of her loving caregivers, especially Debbie Dunning, Deborah West, Michaela Langshaw, Alicia Medel, and Marie Woodward.
Please sign the online guestbook or leave a note for the family at www.kayserschapel.com. Arrangements are in care of Kayser’s Chapel & Crematory.