On June 17 th our beloved Mary Lou Shumway was lifted by angels to her heavenly home where she was greeted by her family and friends with much rejoicing.
Mary Lou was born May 5, 1933 in Blazer, Idaho at the Symons Ranch outside of Lava Hot Springs to George and Mary Christiansen. She was the oldest of 6 girls: Thelma, Dora, Karen, Lois and Helen. She was raised in Lava Hot Springs and graduated from Lava High School in 1951. Two days later, on May 19 th she married Keith Leon Shumway in McCammon, Idaho at the Shumway Ranch. In January 1952 Keith enlisted in the United States Air Force and following basic training they moved to Cheyenne, Wyoming. Later that year they moved to Keith’s first duty station in Belleville, Illinois where her first son David was born. In 1956 they moved to Scotland where she had the opportunity to see Queen Elizabeth II. While there, her second son Kevin was born in 1958. In 1960 they returned to the US to Ohio. In 1962 Keith was stationed in Alaska while Mary Lou and their boys moved back to Lava Hot Springs. From there, the family moved to Texas when Keith was stationed in San Angelo. Following Texas, the family moved to Germany. During their stay in Germany Keith and Mary Lou adopted two newborn daughters, Annette in 1968 and Renata in 1970. They then moved to Keith’s final station in Louisiana, where he retired in 1972 after 20 years of honorable service. Finally, the family moved to Boise. In 1974 she went to work for the Idaho State Tax Commission where she worked for 35 years, retiring when she was 75. She recently celebrated her 90 th birthday with her beloved family and friends.
We will all miss her greatly.
Remaining here on earth to remember Mary Lou and celebrate her life are her sisters Lois (Dennis) Stone and Helen (Dave Reyes) Harris, aunt Alta Christiansen, sons David (Pam) Shumway, Kevin (Kat) Shumway, daughters Annette Shumway Polidori, Renata (Kevin) Shumway Burkhead, grandchildren Kira, Jason, Tyler, Danae, Allison, Maryanne, Justin, Becky, Justin, Erin, Alexandra, Heather, Auston, Kelsey, Austin, Dakota, great-grandchildren, Jaxson, Karena, Kaily, Charlie, Hailey, Octavia, Jaxon, Jace, and Blake, and many nieces and nephews and all of us who love Mary Lou.
There to greet her and embrace her when she arrived in heaven were her mother, father, sisters Karen, Thelma and Dora, and many close friends.
Please join us in celebrating Mary Lou’s life at the following services: Viewing, Thursday, June 29 th from 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM at Bowman Funeral Home at 10254 W Carlton Bay Dr, Garden City, ID 83714; Funeral, Friday, June 30 th at 1:00 PM at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints at 3451 N Locust Grove Rd, Meridian, ID 83646 and graveside burial following the funeral at Dry Creek Cemetery, 10100 N. Horseshoe Bend Road, Boise.
The family would like to thank Horizon Home Health and Hospice for their loving care and support of Mom during the past few months, especially Brandie, Toni, Sarah, Kaileigh and Chaplin Tom.
The family suggests memorials can be made in Mary Lou’s name to the Idaho Humane Society or your favorite charity if wanted.
Services are under the direction of Bowman Funeral Home in Boise, Idaho