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Mary Rachel Sandlin Lester Thompson
07/10/1915 — 01/06/2006
From Richland, WA, US | Born in Weleetka, Oklahoma
Mary Rachel Sandlin Lester Thompson
Mary Rachel Sandlin Lester Thompson, 90, of Richland, Washington, was born July 10, 1915, in Weleetka, Oklahoma and died Friday, January 6, 2006, at Richland Rehabilitation Center.
Mary lived in the Tri-Cities 57 years where she was a teacher at Lewis and Clark Elementary School in Richland. She began teaching at Lewis and Clark in 1948 and taught there 29 years before retiring in 1977.
She was an active member of Richland First Church of the Nazarene since its beginning and was a Sunday School teacher and Board member.
She was a charter member of the Tri-City Court Club. She enjoyed swimming at TCCC and golfing with the Golf Bags at Columbia Park Golf Course. She worked with Contact Ministry calling for Checkline.
Mary is survived by sister, Ruth Harvey Hart and brother, Lindy Dean Sandlin; daughters, Mary Lee Jim Yarborough and Linda Ruth Henry Rutkowski; daughter-in-law, Laura Thompson; step-daughter, Shirley Warren Fleishman and stepson, Robert Joan Thompson; and numerous nieces, nephews, grandchildren and great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by first husband, Steven Thomas Lester who was killed in action during World War II on December 24, 1944; second husband, Iiley Thompson, who passed away in 1983; daughter, Rebecca Cleavenger; stepson, Iiley Ray Thompson, and brothers, Birdette and Jarrette Sandlin.
Funeral services will be at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, January 10, 2006, at Richland First Church of the Nazarene. Interment will be in East Prosser Cemetery.
Visitation will be at Einans Funeral Home from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. Monday, January 9.
Memorial contributions may be made Pinelow Camp Scholarships or to Richland First Church of the Nazarene, 2500 Jericho Rd, Richland, WA 99352.
We remember Mary as a beautiful, caring person. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family.
Special condolences to Mary Lee, Linda Ruth and your families. My most cherished memories of Aunt Mary were the many Christmas Eve festivites at her house. I now appreciate her efforts to entertain for large family gatherings. Aunt Mary and my father would always have lively conversations at our house over a cup of coffee. She was always very high spirited and resolute for faith and family. I am happy to know that memorials are requested for Pinelow Nazarene Church Camp. Now I have one more way to remember Aunt Mary.
Love, Bryan and Debbie Sandlin
My thoughts are prayers and with you and your family at this difficult time. May god wrap you in his arms.
My brother George and I feel honored to have known and been influenced by, as George would lovingly call her,
“Mother Mary”
Growing up in Richland we had the privledge of knowing an extrodinary number of stong women, who looking back now were ahead of there time, Mary was one of the most dynamic. Their lives enriched us all. “Mother Mary’s” courage through many life trials was a testamony to her faith in God as the giver of all things.
We are blessed to have known her and to have been counted as part of her greater church family.
As I write this my brother George will be unable to attend her service, a reality that breaks his heart, if at all possible he would be there to honor…”Mother Mary”
On behalf of our family,
George and James Carlson
I attended the services today and thought that they were very worthy of Mary. She was a wonderful, strong woman and a wonderful friend to my mother Alice Eubanks. I have many memories of them together through the years.
She was a wonderful person and a marvelous teacher – I’m so happy my son was lucky enough to have her as his teacher at Lewis & Clark.
Mary Lester was my 3rd and 6th grade teacher. She was always my favorite teacher of all the ones you remember,she was the best. She was so compassionate and caring. You girls were so lucky to have such a good Mom. I know your memories are fine and wonderful of her and your life with her. I was a single Mom to three girls for 12 years and I thought of Mary often and the stories she used to tell us about all of you. I will pray for your courage to live on with out her physical presence and the grace to know she is still with you. Fondly Carla Stine
RHS-63
To the family of Mrs. Lester-Thompson — I first met “Mrs. Lester” as a young 6th grade student 1971-1972 with her as my teacher. I adored her then and to this day have fond memories of those times. She will always remain in my memory as a wonderful teacher who challenged me to the greatest extent. She sure knew how to manage a classroom, something of an art that is missing today!!! I ran into her about three years back my son delivered papers to her home, and to my amazement she not only remembered me, but remembered an “end of school year” gift I had given her something I had long forgotten. Given the amount of students that passed through her classrooms each year, I am certain she had an amazing impact on a lot of people’s lives. She was a marvelous lady who will be truly missed, but one of those people I’m going to look up in heaven someday!!
My claim to fame is that I was in Mary’s third grade class 1952-3 and again in her sixth grade class 1955-6. She was an enthusiastic lady. I remember in 1955 listening to the radio in class the whole week the Dodgers beat the Yankees in the World Series. She taught us how to bat. That was also the year Mary spent six weeks on crutches after demonstrating the proper way to high jump over a pole of bamboo.
I also remember Mary as a truly great lady. In sixth grade under her guidance we began each day with the Lord’s Prayer as well as the Pledge of Allegiance. We took pride in this stance together, although silence from prayer was acceptable from those so inclined none. Mary’s very determined remark was that her husband had been killed in the campaign against “the Nazis” as I remember it from her account to the third grade, he pushed four friends out through a porthole before time ran out and he went down with the ship. Of prayer in school, she said to us “if ‘they’ ever come down this hall to drag me away, I want you to remember the reason why.” She was 50 years ahead of her time and I think she knew it.
A great lady. Mary is with her husband now after so long, and surely she is still with us too as she peeks out through a sort of porthole from a better place, to wish us well and waiting now for our gathering together once again.
Sunday 4-30-06
While looking for a fellow classmate that had just died, I saw this memorial and just read that Mrs. LesterThompson had died in January. Since I don’t take the Tri-City Herald, this is the first I had learned of her death.
Mrs. Lester, as I knew her, was my 6th grade teacher at Lewis & Clark for school year 1961 through 1962. She was one of my most memorable teachers and whenever I ran in to her around town, we would talk and catch up on what had been going on. What I remember most about her is her smile, happy eyes, happy face coupled with her extreme friendliness if I spelled this word wrong, excuse my spelling Mrs. Lester and sincerity.
Lee Bush 61-62 & CHS RHS 68
My condolences go out to Mrs. Lesters as I new her family and friends.
I was in her six-grade class in 1965-66.
She had a very good and long lasting effect on me, Her teaching had a lasting effect on me and I am sure many others. As I remember her she was stern and regimented under her guidance we began each day with the Lord’s Prayer as well as the Pledge of Allegiance. We took pride in this together. I remember Mrs.
Lester talking about her husband that was killed in world war two. As I remember he was in a submarine that was sinking, he got out but went back in the submerged boat to help get other people out.
He received the Medal of Honor from the event. Mrs. Lester brought the medal in and showed it to our class.
She was a very great and honorable person I will miss her.
I remember Mary was a wonderful friend and golf partner over the years we were at Columbia Park. My thoughts and prayers are with the family. I miss her.
We remember Mary as a beautiful, caring person. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family.
Special condolences to Mary Lee, Linda Ruth and your families. My most cherished memories of Aunt Mary were the many Christmas Eve festivites at her house. I now appreciate her efforts to entertain for large family gatherings. Aunt Mary and my father would always have lively conversations at our house over a cup of coffee. She was always very high spirited and resolute for faith and family. I am happy to know that memorials are requested for Pinelow Nazarene Church Camp. Now I have one more way to remember Aunt Mary.
Love, Bryan and Debbie Sandlin
My thoughts are prayers and with you and your family at this difficult time. May god wrap you in his arms.
My brother George and I feel honored to have known and been influenced by, as George would lovingly call her,
“Mother Mary”
Growing up in Richland we had the privledge of knowing an extrodinary number of stong women, who looking back now were ahead of there time, Mary was one of the most dynamic. Their lives enriched us all. “Mother Mary’s” courage through many life trials was a testamony to her faith in God as the giver of all things.
We are blessed to have known her and to have been counted as part of her greater church family.
As I write this my brother George will be unable to attend her service, a reality that breaks his heart, if at all possible he would be there to honor…”Mother Mary”
On behalf of our family,
George and James Carlson
I attended the services today and thought that they were very worthy of Mary. She was a wonderful, strong woman and a wonderful friend to my mother Alice Eubanks. I have many memories of them together through the years.
She was a wonderful person and a marvelous teacher – I’m so happy my son was lucky enough to have her as his teacher at Lewis & Clark.
Mary Lester was my 3rd and 6th grade teacher. She was always my favorite teacher of all the ones you remember,she was the best. She was so compassionate and caring. You girls were so lucky to have such a good Mom. I know your memories are fine and wonderful of her and your life with her. I was a single Mom to three girls for 12 years and I thought of Mary often and the stories she used to tell us about all of you. I will pray for your courage to live on with out her physical presence and the grace to know she is still with you. Fondly Carla Stine
RHS-63
To the family of Mrs. Lester-Thompson — I first met “Mrs. Lester” as a young 6th grade student 1971-1972 with her as my teacher. I adored her then and to this day have fond memories of those times. She will always remain in my memory as a wonderful teacher who challenged me to the greatest extent. She sure knew how to manage a classroom, something of an art that is missing today!!! I ran into her about three years back my son delivered papers to her home, and to my amazement she not only remembered me, but remembered an “end of school year” gift I had given her something I had long forgotten. Given the amount of students that passed through her classrooms each year, I am certain she had an amazing impact on a lot of people’s lives. She was a marvelous lady who will be truly missed, but one of those people I’m going to look up in heaven someday!!
My claim to fame is that I was in Mary’s third grade class 1952-3 and again in her sixth grade class 1955-6. She was an enthusiastic lady. I remember in 1955 listening to the radio in class the whole week the Dodgers beat the Yankees in the World Series. She taught us how to bat. That was also the year Mary spent six weeks on crutches after demonstrating the proper way to high jump over a pole of bamboo.
I also remember Mary as a truly great lady. In sixth grade under her guidance we began each day with the Lord’s Prayer as well as the Pledge of Allegiance. We took pride in this stance together, although silence from prayer was acceptable from those so inclined none. Mary’s very determined remark was that her husband had been killed in the campaign against “the Nazis” as I remember it from her account to the third grade, he pushed four friends out through a porthole before time ran out and he went down with the ship. Of prayer in school, she said to us “if ‘they’ ever come down this hall to drag me away, I want you to remember the reason why.” She was 50 years ahead of her time and I think she knew it.
A great lady. Mary is with her husband now after so long, and surely she is still with us too as she peeks out through a sort of porthole from a better place, to wish us well and waiting now for our gathering together once again.
Sunday 4-30-06
While looking for a fellow classmate that had just died, I saw this memorial and just read that Mrs. LesterThompson had died in January. Since I don’t take the Tri-City Herald, this is the first I had learned of her death.
Mrs. Lester, as I knew her, was my 6th grade teacher at Lewis & Clark for school year 1961 through 1962. She was one of my most memorable teachers and whenever I ran in to her around town, we would talk and catch up on what had been going on. What I remember most about her is her smile, happy eyes, happy face coupled with her extreme friendliness if I spelled this word wrong, excuse my spelling Mrs. Lester and sincerity.
Lee Bush 61-62 & CHS RHS 68
My condolences go out to Mrs. Lesters as I new her family and friends.
I was in her six-grade class in 1965-66.
She had a very good and long lasting effect on me, Her teaching had a lasting effect on me and I am sure many others. As I remember her she was stern and regimented under her guidance we began each day with the Lord’s Prayer as well as the Pledge of Allegiance. We took pride in this together. I remember Mrs.
Lester talking about her husband that was killed in world war two. As I remember he was in a submarine that was sinking, he got out but went back in the submerged boat to help get other people out.
He received the Medal of Honor from the event. Mrs. Lester brought the medal in and showed it to our class.
She was a very great and honorable person I will miss her.
I remember Mary was a wonderful friend and golf partner over the years we were at Columbia Park. My thoughts and prayers are with the family. I miss her.
I am vey late in doing this and am embarrassed I didn’t do it right away. I had Mary as a teacher in the 3rd and the sixth grade. She was a close friend with my mom, Alice. So I imagine that my mom made sure I was in her room both years. She was a great and positive influence on me. She probably had almost as much influence on me as my mom did. She was a great lady and will never be duplicated
Mary was a great lady and friend, especially to my mom, Lois Williams. She was fun to be around and a blessing to many people. She will certainly by missed. I pray for peace and comfort for all of the family.
Wynell Williams Fishburne
Dear Mary and Family,
I just read this and, since the funeral was today, I missed it. That’s what happens when a computer goes down–you miss everything.
I am so very sorry for the loss of your Mother and I have always remembered her with fond memories of my days in third grade in the Quanset hut she taught in that year. Lord, that had to have been in about 1949. I know she will be missed sorely by many people.
Mary, I would love to get a memorial for her from you when I can since I missed the services.
My hearfelt prayers, thoughts and love are with you at this time. And may God speed your healing from this deep wound you have sufferd. God speed her journey home to Him and may she rest in peaceful slumber now.
Love to you and your Family,
Judy Willox
To Mary Thompson`s family.Sorry to hear about loss of your mother, grandma, sister, and friend. I knew her from church, and she was good friends with my grandma. Hope the best for her family.
Robby Evans
Guestbook for
Mary Rachel Sandlin Lester Thompson