Lenora D’Arcy

December 1, 1929 – January 28, 2022

It is with great sadness but also with great rejoicing, that Lenora D’Arcy passed from this world to rest in the arms of her Savior Jesus Christ on Jan. 28, 2022, at the age of 92.

Lenora was born Dec. 1, 1929, to Paul and Leola (Beyer) McMains in Albuquerque, New Mexico. She was the eldest of five children. Lenora graduated from Boise High School in Boise, Idaho, in 1948. After graduation, she moved to Los Angeles, California, to enter Woodbury Art College. It was there that Lenora met the love of her life David D’Arcy and after a whirlwind courtship, they married on St. Patrick’s Day, March 17, 1950. They would be married for 55 years. Lenora and David moved to Ephrata in 1952 with their baby son Grady, to be closer to Lenora’s parents. This is where they would live the rest of their lives raising their family.

Lenora was a past president of the Columbia Ridge Elementary School PTA. Lenora was also instrumental in forming the Ephrata High School Band Parents Organization. She worked with other band mothers making the band awards banners that hang in the Ephrata High School band room. Lenora later went on to write and publish a book titled “Beyond Being Brave,” a fiction novel chronicling a family’s travels in 1852 on the Oregon Trail.

Lenora was also known for the beautiful hand-made quilts she made for donation to needy babies and for numerous family members. Lenora enjoyed camping with her family and spent many happy times with her husband and parents as “snow birds,” traveling in their fifth wheel trailer to Arizona in the winter. Lenora also enjoyed cooking and baking for her family at Sunday get-togethers and family reunions.

Lenora was a loving caregiver to both her parents in their later years until their deaths. Lenora also tirelessly and lovingly cared for her husband David in his later years until he preceded her in death in 2005. Lenora was also preceded in death by their baby son Grady in 1953. Also preceding Lenora in death were her brother and sister-in-law, Joe and Maude McMains of Ephrata, and brother Dr. Gene McMains of Pasco.

Lenora is survived by her three children Peter and Beth D’Arcy of Ephrata, Amy (D’Arcy) Downie of Moses Lake and Joe and Heidi (D’Arcy) Bailey of Marysville, Washington; siblings Mary (McMains) Hunt and brother-in-law Terry Hunt of Coulee City and Sam McMains of Boise, Idaho, and sister-in-law Shirley McMains of Ephrata. Lenora is also survived by 10 grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren and a large extended family of nieces, nephews, brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law.

Lenora was a devout member of the Ephrata Church of Christ for over 70 years. She taught Sunday school and vacation Bible school there for many years. She enjoyed singing hymns and praising her Lord, Jesus.

Lenora will be greatly missed by those who loved her but we know we have lost her only temporarily for we will see her again in Heaven.

Services are pending until spring.