Sally Edith McLanahan

June 13, 1925 – January 7, 2018

Sally Edith McLanahan, 92, was welcomed into Heaven on Sunday, Jan. 7, 2018. Viewing will be from 5-7 p.m. Jan. 11 at Kayser’s Chapel and at noon until 12:45 p.m. on Jan. 12 at Moses Lake Alliance Church. Funeral services will follow at 1 p.m. at the church. Burial will be in Guarding Angels Cemetery.

Sign the online guestbook at www.kayserschapel.com. Arrangements are in care of Kayser’s Chapel.

Sally was born to Louis Edward Isitt and Martha Krausse Isitt on June 13, 1925 in Walla Walla, Wash. She became the first girl to play in the ROTC High School band. As the manager of the Walla Walla PX during World War II, she met the love of her life, Mac McLanahan. They married in North Augusta, S.C. in 1946 and were married 71 years.

The family moved to Moses Lake in 1955 where Sally became involved in PTA, Cub Scouts, International Little League, and many other activities her children were interested in.

Some of the community activities Sally became involved with include:

Starting the first Little League Parade (now known as the “Dick Kelley Parade”) with 250 kids in 1959, remaining in charge of the parade for 36 years; helping to establish the Parks and Recreation Department and serving as their first volunteer; starting many of Moses Lake’s first recreation programs: summer programs, preschool, roller skating, square dancing, exercising, et cetera. She was the Recreation Department supervisor for seven years and a life member of the National Parks and Recreation. She was a school bus driver for 13 years because of her love for children. She helped bring Cascade Park and the Peninsula Boat Launch into the city and served as Recreation Supervisor for Upward Bound. She was the first woman to serve on the Columbia Basin Job Corp Council and did so for 36 years. She was the supervisor for the Grant County Community Action Council, started the Moses Lake Senior Center from a totally condemned building in the ’70s, serving as director for 14 years and now as a Lifetime Director and created the traveling “Sally’s Recycle Senior Band.”

Sally started the AARP Retired Senior program, the first drug and alcohol programs and a driving course for adults who hadn’t learned to drive. She was a Life Member of Soroptimist International of Moses Lake and the first lady to receive the prestigious Jefferson Award in eastern Washington, presented by the vice president of the U.S. She was given Woman of Achievement Awards, served on four scholarship committees, was a member of the Moses Lake Woman’s Club and a dedicated member of Retired Public Employees for 25 years and chaired the committee to build a new Chief Justice building. Sally was a longtime member of the Christian and Missionary Alliance Church, serving as church gardener until age 90 and on many other community boards including the Humane Society.

She loved her family, God, and believed that it is important to get involved and participate in your community.

She is survived by her husband Mac McLanahan; children Larry (Chris) McLanahan and Cherre (Jon) Resh; grandchildren Anthony (Charisse) McLanahan, Ranen (Kirsten) McLanahan, Maverick, Pacific, and Michael McLanahan; great-grandchildren Jasmine, Mason, Owen, Raelle; Tim and Gerry McLanahan and others.

Memorial donations can be made to Moses Lake Senior Center or Moses Lake Alliance Church.