Mary Wilma Cameron, 97, a former Richland resident, died March 28, 2009, in Spokane Valley, Wash.
Her graveside service will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday at Terrace Heights Memorial Park, 3001 Terrace Heights Dr., Yakima, Wash.
Mary was born on May 2, 1911, at Richland to George W. and Melissa J. Hartley Evans. She was the youngest of eight children.
Mary accepted Jesus at the age of 9 during a revival meeting. She attended high school at Wapato, Wash., and at the age of 17 she married Cecil H. “Swede” Cameron in the Yakima Valley.
She and her husband, “Swede,” were well-known and respected fruit growers. Together they operated Cameron’s Fruit Ranch on Lombard Loop Road at Wapato, until Swede’s death at the age of 54. Mary continued to operate their orchard until she retired.
Mary was married to Paul C. Stark of Stark Bros. Nursery of Missouri for 10 years. They traveled extensively during their marriage. Paul also preceded Mary in death.
As a member of the “Good Fruit Growers,” Mary was featured many times on their magazine’s cover. Mary was a lifetime member of the Washington State Horticultural Association and belonged to the National Rifle Association and the First Christian Church of Yakima.
She retired at Yakima until 2002 when she moved to Spokane where she was a resident of Park Place Assisted Living.
Mary loved the outdoors and was very artistic. Always active, Mary Wilma took flying lessons, loved cooking, arranging flowers and having tea parties. Her fruit ranch was once featured in “Life” magazine.
She also was preceded in death by her son, Gary Cameron.
Survivors include her two daughters and sons-in-law, Mona and Roger Crawford and Judy and Eugene Lee, of Spokane, Wash.; daughters-in-Law, Linda Cameron of Eltopia, Wash., and Jan Cameron of California; eight grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to Hospice of Spokane, 121 S. Arthur, Spokane, WA 99202.
Used with permission from: Baker City Herald, Baker City, Oregon, April 06, 2009
Transcribed by: Belva Ticknor