Maryllyn Norma Spencer (Mary) was born on March 16, 1929 in Peerless, Montana to Ralph Cooper Kestin and Ethel Eugenia Dowdy and passed away April 20, 2021 in Federal Way, WA from natural causes. Maryllyn was the 8th child of 11 children and is survived by one sister, Wanda Lahn of Olympia, WA; brothers: Llewellyn Kestin of Troy, Missouri and Gary O'Hara of Meridian, ID.

Mary was raised on a small farm near Scobey, Montana. Due the loss of their father and the effects of The Great Depression they ended up losing the farm and moved into Scobey. She graduated from Scobey High in 1947.

She met the love of her life James Warren Spencer (Lynch, NE) while Warren was working construction with Mary's older sister Maxine's husband Belmer Graff. They were married on November 21, 1948 in Kennewick, WA. Both couples following work moved to Lea Hill/Auburn, WA where Mary and Warren purchased a home and settled there in February 1952.

Mary was a wonderful mom and homemaker; we did not find out until later in life when she told us she hated cooking and housework! Nevertheless, she was a great cook; we usually had fried chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, and a vegetable on Sunday. Mary was a spiritual person; she believed in god and lived the ten commandments as a roadmap for life. We always had a balanced meal, and more importantly we ate at the table, together; and usually not without a belly laugh for some reason or another! She also baked bread, dinner rolls, fabulous cinnamon rolls, and "Bluff" (fried bread). It was never a total inconvenience when the power went out because Mary would make bread and fried bluff on the camp stove. When the power came back on; we had fresh baked bread and cinnamon rolls!

Mary treasured her times with her entire family from the Spencer’s in Oregon to her beloved brothers, sisters, nephews, nieces, cousins, children and grandchildren. So many holiday celebrations and camping trips that involved both sides of the family from Lake Diablo in the North Cascades, the Tri-Cities in Eastern Wa to the beaches of the Pacific Ocean. She always ended up doing the cooking, but she would never regret the time spent together. We all loved to spend time on Warren’s (dad) fishing boat he aptly named the MaryllyN as well as combing the beaches of La Push and Neah Bay. Not many are left who will remember the epic time when Warren thought he could load the boat onto the trailer from the beach, if I remember right Mary saved day there!

Family card playing get togethers were some of the times she enjoyed the most. Mary was a wonderful Bridge and Pinochle player and was the best partner (side of her niece Joyce) you could have. Just a few rounds of hand and foot were never enough. Mary also loved to take part in family singalongs with her sister Gwen, her son Loren, sister Maxine, the Lemmers and the entire family. She loved to hear her niece Diane and husband Jan sing together, her favorite was the Long Black Vale for sure. Mary was an avid Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy! watcher, it was always a challenge to solve the puzzle before Mary could, she was a master of wordology.

On Sept 1971 when Warren was killed in an unfortunate industrial accident, Mary quickly changed her approach to life and started to become her own person. In the face of adversity Mary restarted her life and career. She got her driver's license and went back to school where she successfully completed her AA degree at GRCC as a stenographer. She did an internship at GSA in Auburn; and went on to become an office manager for GSA in Seattle. She retired from GSA as an valued and admired employee in 1996.

Mary was a strong, loving, genuine person. She did her best at anything she did whether it was sewing, knitting, cooking, cleaning, typing, teaching/raising children, playing cards, business management or a crossword puzzle; she did it right.

Mary had five children: Virginia R. Furney, James W. Spencer, Jr (Kimberly), Llucinda F. Spencer (deceased), Janna J. Ralston (Kirk) and Calvin L. Spencer (Mary Lou). She is also survived by fourteen grandchildren, 14 great grandchildren and one great great grandsons and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Salvation Army in her name.