This community was saddened on Christmas day when the news reached here of the passing of Mrs. Mary C. Lee [December 25, 1926], at the home of her son in Tacoma. She had made her home for the past few years with her son Daniel. Mrs. Lee was born in Ireland and spent her early life in Melbourne, Australia, being married in New Zealand.
In September she met with an accident and broke a hip and since that time had been confined to her home and with her advanced age, she soon grew weaker, quietly passing in the great beyond, at the age of 88 years. Thus passes another and we might say the last of the early settlers of the upper Puyallup Valley. There were only four families in this section when the deceased came with her husband to settle here. And since that time she has made her home in and near Orting.
The memory of this pioneer cannot be honored too highly. For it was from hardships endured by her kind that the present cities and towns have evolved. Mrs. Lee was a true character of pioneer days. Always faithful and kind, and one whose greatest quality was in making and holding her friends. Her slipping quietly into the great unknown, takes from our midst a personage beloved by all. She gave to the Northwest the biggest portion of her life and sent forth a family of children well trained and honored because of their background of pioneer existence. Her thoughts were purely Christian and it was from the steps of Christianity that she directed the routine of her home and life.
Fifty seven years ago saw the approach of this pioneer woman to the vast region of the Northwest, and reckoning back to the tales told of the grim days of a half century ago, we of today cannot pay too much tribute to the daring spirit of these people whose ranks are quickly thinning. Therefore, we take occasion at the passing of Mrs. Lee to chronicle the departure of the last standard bearer that came her among the first to plant the sign of Truth and clean living in the building of a great country. Her mission fulfilled after many years of struggle, we, who are enjoying the fruits of early labors, can only bow our heads in silent respect to the great pioneers, of which the subject was one for the leaders.
One strange feature of her passing was that she had told her loved ones two days previous she was going to the heavenly reward on Christmas Day.
She is survived by four sons, Daniel W. O’Farrell of Tacoma, James R. O’Farrell of Orting, Thomas E. O’Farrell of Spokane, and Robert E. Lee of Tacoma and by seven grandchildren and two great grandchildren.
Funeral services were held at 8:15 a.m. Monday at the Church of the Visitation in South Tacoma. Rev. Father Albert officiating. Burial was made in Calvary Cemetery at that place. The Oracle joins in sympathy to the sons in the great loss of their mother.
Contributed by: Shelli Steedman