Mary Ellen Kennedy Pearson, 85

Mary Ellen Kennedy Pearson, 85, passed away Dec. 21, 2007, at Colonial Manor in Whitefish. She was born in Brockton on Jan. 1, 1922, to Thomas and Nellie Kennedy, and moved with her family to the Flathead Valley when she was very small. She continued to live in the Flathead Valley all of her life, except for the short time she spent working in the shipyard in Seattle during World War II.

She married Robert C. Pearson and had four children. Mary was a homemaker at heart, but she did work in the laundry at the old Kalispell General Hospital for several years.

She loved going camping with her family, and she enjoyed gardening with her husband, Bob. She was a loving grandmother to all of her grandchildren, and only became interested in pro football in her later years because her grandson would come to watch it on TV with her.

She spent the last few years of her life at Colonial Manor, where she was cared for with grace and dignity.

She was preceded in death by her parents; brother, Joseph Kennedy; and sister, Margaret VanLeuven.

She is survived by her children, Don Pearson and Sharon of Whitefish, Barbara McMahon and Jim of Boulder, Tom Pearson and Barbara of Milwaukie, Ore., and Kathy Walker and Kelly of Dothan, Ala. She left seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren to continue her legacy.

"She is in a far better place with her family and friends in heaven with our Lord."

Cremation has taken place, and a Memorial Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. April 19, at St. Matthew's Parish, with inurnment afterward at the C.E. Conrad Memorial Cemetery.