BOMBER MEMORIAL

MARY MARILLA SMITH ELLER-PETERSEN ~ Class of 1953
December 31, 1934 - February 14, 2013

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Mary Marilla SMITH Eller-Petersen passed away peacefully on February 14, 2013 at her home in Edmonds, WA with family. Marilla was born December 31, 1934 in Edgemont, SD. She lived in the Tri-Cities for the last 40 years marrying her husband Carl Petersen in 1975. Marilla had a lifelong career in nursing, graduating from Washington State College in 1957 before practicing in the Seattle area and then teaching at Columbia Basin College for 28 years. Marilla's students called her "Mrs. P" and are now working all over the Tri-Cities. Her master's degree and nurse practitioner license from the University of Portland in 1986 was a proud life accomplishment for her.

Her faith in Christ started as a young mother and carried her throughout her life. She was active in Bible Study Fellowship and her church for many years. She loved to serve others in so many ways. Marilla was involved for over fifty years in the women's service organization PEO. After retirement she volunteered twice a week at Meals on Wheels. She was always busy helping friends. She stayed in touch with Richland High School friends and college friends alike. She loved to dance, ballroom dancing with Carl and tap dancing with Tri-City Tappers.

She struggled for a year with ALS before going home to heaven. Marilla was preceded in death by her first husband, Blaine ('53-RIP) in 1971, her parents GVR and Ellen Smith, and grandson Bret Kyle Soike.

Marilla is survived by her husband, Carl Petersen, two brothers George Smith (Jean) and Dick Smith (Jan), her three children Richard Eller (Alice), Shara Soike (Bret) and David Eller (Melissa). She has seven grandchildren: Alison, Christopher, Jessica, Andrew, Angela, Amy and Ashley.

Donations can be made in her name to World Concern at worldconcern.org.

There will be a Witness to the Resurrection service on Saturday, March 2, 2013. The service will be at Kennewick First Presbyterian Church at 11:00 am. Share memories at www.becksfuneralhome.com.

Published in the Tri-City Herald on February 24, 2013