MARELL ANN CALMAN, 73, a resident of Mount Vernon, passed away at her home on Wednesday, July 3, 2002.
She was born on December 21, 1928 in Hamilton, WA, the daughter of Charles E. & Arta Maria Shuler Prater. Ann lived her life in Skagit Valley and graduated from Concrete High School. In 1963 she moved to the Sedro-Woolley area where she lived for many years until settling in Mount Vernon.
Ann was an extremely active community leader and volunteer. She served as President for the Skagit Council on Aging and for the Skagit County Community Action Agency. She is past president of the Mount Vernon Senior Center Advisory Board and has been its treasurer for the last 10 years.
For many years she led the Mount Vernon Senior Center ceramic & knitting program, teaching seniors and sharing her skills with local school children.
Ann spearheaded our senior citizens efforts to; help supply knitted hats for the Skagit Valley Herald Christmas Fund; for supplying hundreds of afghans and blankets for our local Women’s and Children’s shelters; the Linus Project for children in crisis, and for students at Secret Harbor.
Ann recruited and assisted many volunteers over the years and we hope that her efforts will be continued on by those whose lives have been touched by Ann’s generosity and caring. She will be greatly missed by her family, friends and co-workers.
She is survived by her son, Bruce Blankinship and his wife Donna and by her daughter Susan Kemble and her husband David, all of Mount Vernon, WA. 6 grandchildren, Holli, Kelli, and Andrew Blankinship. Robyn Menard and her husband Ben, Cheryl Lanahan and her husband Sean and Mark Kemble. 5 great-grandchildren, Jeffery, Wyatt, Gavin, Violet and Josiah. 1 nephew, Jeffery Ashe and his wife Laura of Chehalis, WA. She was preceded in death by her parents, her sister, Margaret Jane Ashe and 1 nephew, David Ashe.
At Ann’s request there will be no funeral services. A Celebration and potluck for family and friends will be held on Tuesday July 9, 2002 at 1:00 PM at the Heather Village Community Center, 925 Heather Circle, Mount Vernon. The family suggests memorials be made to the Mount Vernon Senior Center. Cremation and arrangements under direction of Lemley Chapel, Sedro-Woolley.
Share thought and memories of Ann and sign the online guest register at www.lemleychapel.com