Mary Beth Larkin, 84, passed away peacefully in her sleep on March 27, 2013 at Whitman County Hospital in Colfax, Washington. She was born Mary Beth Harris to Chester and Bertha Harris on May 23, 1928 in North Salem, Idaho. The family moved to a farm in Wilder, Idaho when Mary Beth was six years old. She always did her share of the chores and had the usual farm pets; her favorite being her horse Tony. Mary attended grade school and high school in Wilder where she participated in track and softball. During football season she was crowned the school's first ever "Potato Bowl" queen.
Later on, Mary's interest turned from the farm and sports to aviation. She studied and trained and eventually received her private pilot's license. She was very proud of this accomplishment and her links to aviation eventually led her to Jack Larkin. Jack was a crop duster (aerial applicator, as he would say) and Mary and Jack soon developed a relationship that would last a life time. After they were married, they followed the crop dusting circuit to many towns, but always called Lacrosse, Washington their home. The family eventually grew to five with the addition of three boys and the family's nomadic life style became a thing of the past.
Mary was very fond of music and enjoyed playing the guitar and singing three-part harmony with her sisters, Betty and Treva. She and Jack were also avid collectors of agates, arrowheads, bottles, and anything else that wasn't nailed down or buried too deep. Mary always relished a good game of scrabble or cribbage and was a pretty good chess player as well. In her final few years she found great joy in spending time with her beloved cat Spook. The two were inseparable.
Mary was preceded in death by her parents Chester and Bertha Harris, five older brothers (Lyle, Max, Voyde, Dick and Dee), husband Jack Larkin and son Daniel Larkin. She is survived by two sisters, Betty Rawlins and Treva Williams, both of Boise, Idaho; sons Joseph (Julie) Larkin, Boise, Idaho and Edward (Rita) Larkin, Covington, Kentucky. Surviving grandchildren include; Shawn and Dana Larkin, Denver, Colorado; Mike and Matt Larkin, Boise, Idaho; Amelia Schroeder (Jordan) Columbus, Ohio; Curtis Larkin, Covington, Kentucky; Patrick Crow (Jennifer) Boise, Idaho; Dionne Evans (Joe) Hay, Washington; Staci Cenis (Matt) Forest Grove, Oregon and numerous nieces and nephews.
A special thanks to the staff at Whitman County Hospital and the Courtyard of Colfax for caring for Mary Beth these past few months, and to the Lacrosse EMTs for their efforts over the years.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Lacrosse, Washington EMTs.
A memorial service will be held at Bruning Funeral Home, Colfax, Washington on Saturday, April 27th at 3:00 p.m. Online condolences may be sent to www.bruningfuneralhome.com