Obituary of Mary Elizabeth Kaser

She was born February 6th 1930 during the Great Depression to Nicholas & Mary Elie in Braceville, Ohio. She was the twelfth of thirteen children. She had red natural curly hair as a small toddler and became deathly ill. The family physician took Mary home, shaved off all her hair, and tried experimental treatments while nursing her back to health. He had wanted to adopt Mary but her parents firmly said “NO”. As her hair grew back it was brown and straight. Also as a child, a roving band of people kidnapped Mary out her bedroom window; her older brother rescued her. She grew up in Ohio and moved numerous times. Her first job was at the early age of 10 years old; where she worked as a housekeeper and nanny to small children. Mary attended public school for most of her early education. She then attended Mt. Vernon Adventist Academy during her high school years; graduating in the class of 1949 while working as an nurses aid at the Adventist Nursing Home to pay for her schooling. Mary worked as a health attendant at the Ohio State Hospital after graduation. She moved to California and lived with friends while she worked in a Five & Dime store in the candy department. Her fiancé, Russell was stationed in the US Air Force at Japan. Upon arrival back to the states, the couple were married in Reno, Nevada on May 3oth 1952. They lived in Fort Walton Beach, Florida; and had two daughters: Mary “Kathy” Kathleen Kaser on July 8th 1953 and Linda Sue Kaser on June 8th 1954. They then moved to Wichita Falls, Texas for a short time before moving to Japan. November 1957, Mary and the girls boarded an ocean liner to travel to Japan and join her husband Russell. She became seriously ill during the voyage nearly losing her life and having emergency surgery on board during a typhoon. Once in Japan she was out walking hand in hand with her girls and came to a crosswalk, where a policeman motioned for them to cross. A speeding three wheeled truck ran over Mary in the crosswalk, but not before she pushed her young daughters to safety. From Japan the family traveled to Mountain Home, Idaho in August of 1960. Then the family traveled to Tacoma, Washington in August of 1964. The family joined the Tacoma South Side Seventh-day Adventist Church, as it was being built. And she maintained a faithful, active membership until her passing. On March 2, 1967, Mary gave birth to a son named Russell Atlee Kaser the III. In 1969 she became permanently disabled due to an accident at work breaking her back and requiring surgery. Her life was a life long struggle with pain & many limitations (as they were her constant companion); that she valiantly endured from then on. Shortly after her husband retired from the USAF, they divorced in November 1974. Mary continued to reside in the family home; that she maintained at great cost and effort. Mary never complained about having to raise her son alone. She did what she could with what the Lord provided and was the first to give Him the Praise for her many blessings. She served her church on the church board and school board, started a weekly women’s bible study class on Thursday mornings, but her favorite position was that of Cradle Roll leader; where she was able to lovingly share God’s love with (her “Mission Field”) many families and young children. She sadly gave that position up as her health declined. Every now and then you could still find her sharing hugs and stories with the children and adults. She felt that hands were carried germs, so hugs were better. Her family will greatly miss her; in fact words can not express our feelings. Meals at Mom’s (Grandma’s) or Christmas celebrations’, you never knew what or who the present was for as each year she had a new code to keep presents a secret. But then she would forget the code or where hid them. Mary was an avid gardener (huge tomato plant jungles on the front porch, a large collection of cacti and beautiful flowers and plants inside & outside each year). She made many pieces of ceramics for family, friends and her home. She enjoyed playing games, working puzzles, and watching game shows & her 3ABN. She was a very social person; opening her home up to others freely and enjoyed cooking for them. ( Cottage cheese patties and fresh strawberry pie Yummy!!) She enjoyed watching birds & squirrels, and feeding them on her back porch. Mary is survived by her children: Kathy, Linda, and Russell; her siblings: Joe, Rose, Vera, and Eva; and multiple grand children, great- grand children, & great-great grandchildren; and multiple extended family and unofficial adopted children. She was preceded in death by her parents: Nicholas & Mary Elie; her siblings: Nick, John, Pete, Charles, Anne, Florence, Jenny, and Keva. Her priorities were God, Family, and others before herself. No child was ever unloved by her. And she died peacefully with family on March 16th, 2011 at the Franciscan Hospice House in University Place, Washington; after a 4 month struggle with declining health praising the Lord till the end for her many blessings.