MARY MEESKE ARTHERTON Aug 28, 1928 – Jan 16, 2014

 Mary shared the following story about her life at a professional women’s organization meeting in 1998

“It was when I was 13 years old that my life changed.

I had a very happy childhood. I lived on a farm in Wisner, Nebraska where we raised cattle, hogs, corn and alfalfa. And of course, going to a country school. I’m number 11 of 12 children – 9 girls and 3 boys.

Oh, what wonderful memories I have coming from a Christian home and never being alone. Being the youngest girl I remember my job in the kitchen was not to learn to cook but to keep the cob-box full and stay out of the way while my older sisters helped my mother do the cooking and baking.

I never realized how many Sayings and every day things we take for granted as we are growing up. Such as:

* Share and share alike.
* A place for everything and everything in it’s place.
* Waste not – want not.
* If a job is worth doing it’s worth doing well.
* If it is to be, it is up to me.
* And the most important of them all, “Everything happens in God’s timing not ours.”

My dear Mother was a very loving, patient and orderly person. Making each of us feel important by the jobs and responsibilities we each had to do. She became very ill with double pneumonia. I remember so well on the night before she died each of us went into her room to tell her goodbye and the next day the Lord called her home. She was only 52 years old and I was 13. Then my life changed!

On the day of her funeral my Aunt Pauline said, “Oh Mary Ann, there are so many things worse than death. Only the Lord knows.” I didn’t believe it then, but indeed I do now and oh how very true it is.

I was a freshman in High School and went on to Business College. I prayed that I would meet a good Christian man, marry. If we had children I would want them to be prepared and let them experience so many things in life just in case I would only be with them until they were 13: Really not a bad way to raise your children.

Well, in God’s good timing my prayers were answered. I did meet and marry a wonderful, loving and caring fellow, Ralph. We have 2 beautiful daughters, Claudia and Laura and needless to say they were very independent and able to think and do for themselves rather early in life. Both are happily married and living in California. We have 3 precious grandchildren. Yes, I have reminded them of my life and how meaningful and blessed I have been. I must say Grandma Mary sometimes gives a little sermonette.

We moved to Green Valley, Arizona in 1979 after owning and selling a very successful business for 19 years in Scottsbluff, Nebraska. Again the time was in the Lord’s hands. After 42 years of a very happy and contented married life we are indeed blessed. So I say thank you Mom for all I learned and what a great example you were in the few short years we had together. God is good. Thank you God for everything.”

A few years after Mary presented this speech, she had a stroke, and Ralph cared for her in their AZ home. She remained as active as possible and was surrounded by friends and family. After Ralph died in 2009, Mary’s daughters brought her to Northern California to be near them. It was indeed a great blessing for Claudia and Laura to have cared for Mary in her final years. Mary is now in heaven with the Lord Jesus, whom she loved dearly. She ran the good race, she fought the good fight and now has reaped her reward.

In her final year, some of the most enjoyable moments for Mary were those spent with 8 year old great granddaughter, Addisyn. They read books, played dress up and made bracelets together. Mary also enjoyed time spent with the latest family addition, Aurora (born Fall 2012). Mary enjoyed just holding her, but she was also able to feed her and they looked at books together.

We were all blessed with one last Christmas together; celebrated with four family generations under one roof.

Mary is survived by her daughters Claudia (and her husband, Everett Senior) and Laura (and her husband Howard Givens) all of CA. Three grandchildren: Amanda Muheim (and her husband Brian) of CA, David Senior of CA and Sara Senior of AZ. One great granddaughter, Aurora Muheim. One sister, Orva Mae Sudduth of Nebraska and fifty plus nieces and nephews throughout the United States. Mary was also blessed to have three step granddaughters: Jodel Jencks and Brandie Sepetaio of CA, and Terrill Bird of WA; as well as four step great grandchildren: Andre Givens Fili, Alesha Givens Fili, Aaron Bird and Addisyn Givens.

Mary’s remains will be interred in Green Valley, Arizona beside Ralph, her husband of 54 years.

Please visit Mary’s online memorial website at http://mary-meeske-artherton.forevermissed.com to share memories, share photos and offer condolences to the family.