Mary Josephine Brinlee, 60, of Colfax passed away on May 7, 2014 at the Whitman Health & Rehabilitation Center. Private family graveside services have been held and Mary was laid to rest at the Winona Cemetery.

Mary was born on August 16, 1953 in San Bernardino, California to Walter and Ann Pavelak. She was raised for most of her life in Washington and Oregon and she graduated high school in Roseburg, Oregon in 1971. After she graduated she moved back to Rialto and it was there she met William Brinlee. The couple married in Las Vegas, Nevada on February 4, 1976.

Mary worked most of her life as a restaurant line cook and was quite excellent at it. She enjoyed fishing, camping and water skiing with her family and friends and was an excellent wife and mother. After Willie passed away in 1997 Mary became a very independent woman and lived around the western states, residing in Eastern Washington for the last 10 years. She loved living in the northwest, especially Washington. She was also very strong in her faith and enjoyed studying the Bible.

Mary is survived by her daughter Angela Brinlee of California; son Stanley Speir of Montana; brothers John Pavelak of California and Pete Pavelak of Arkansas; sisters Patricia Sikorski of California; Anne Pavelak of Endicott and Sue Gouin of California as well as three grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband Willie.

Memorial contributions in Mary's honor are suggested to Lilac Services for the Blind of Spokane. Bruning Funeral Home of Colfax has been entrusted with funeral arrangements. Online condolences may be left at www.bruningfuneralhome.com