Mary Francis Husted passed away peacefully at home surrounded by her family in the early morning hours of Nov. 6, 2022. She was 86.
Mary Frances Tuttle was born to Lewis and Elsie Tuttle in Parma, Idaho, on July 16, 1936. Growing up in Eastern Oregon, Mary was the youngest of eight siblings and enjoyed singing, school and playing baseball.
Mary wed Robert (Bob) Husted on June 7, 1952. Their daughter, Karen, was born in 1954 and their son, Bobby, in 1956. The family moved from Oregon to Alaska in 1959. While Bob worked in Anchorage, Mary, with young Karen and Bobby, homesteaded land in rural Alaska for a year.
After moving back to Oregon for a short time, the family settled permanently in Anchorage, Alaska, in 1962. Bob and Mary lived in Anchorage until 1993 when they moved to Chehalis, Washington.
Mary loved spending time with her family, working in her yard and spoiling her pets. She enjoyed singing in the church choir and with various worship teams and groups. Mary and Bob traveled all over the globe, from China to Peru and from France to Australia.
On many of these trips, they went as volunteers to help with world missions. She had a special place in her heart for the people of El Salvador and counted many of the people she met there as dear friends and family.
Mary is preceded in death by her husband, Bob; her son, Bobby; her parents; and all of her siblings. She is survived by her daughter, Karen and Michael Soukkala, of Chehalis; her granddaughter, Kristin and Michael Sheppard; three great-grandchildren; and grandson Ryan and Tami Soukkala.
Services will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, Nov. 18, at Napavine Assembly of Napavine Assembly of God, 411 Second Ave. NE, Napavine, Washington, 98532.
