Mary L. Selene

Mary Harkness Selene, age 100, of Bellingham went to be with her Lord and Savior on November 14, 2012 at home with family. She was born December 8, 1911 to Blanche and Peter Harkness, pioneers in Everson, and spent her early years on the farm. She married Edward Selene, a Bellingham building contractor, in 1931. Mary continued to live in the house that she and Edward built over 67 years ago. She touched hundreds of lives with her warmth, friendly smile, quick sense of humor, interest in and love for people. She made friends of all ages wherever she went and had a gift of sharing her faith. She loved her Savior and felt responsible to share the good news about Jesus Christ freely. Her greatest desire was for her family and friends to be able to know Jesus as their Savior. She was a longtime member of Geneva Community Church where she worked in the nursery and later with Child Evangelism Fellowship. She later attended Northlake Church and has had a ministry of intercessory prayer and helping over the years. She also had a God-given gift of verbal and written communication and wrote many notes of encouragement to friends, often spending hours on the telephone listening to and counseling friends. During WW II she wrote to servicemen and formed a pen pal friendship with Margaret Ure in England. They finally met when Margaret hosted Mary in England and toured Scotland also. Favorite shared activities prior to Edward’s death in 1972 were spending time at conferences at The Firs and the Firs Chalet, and trout fishing at Decca Lake in Canada. She became a telephone caller for the Laurendeau Cancer Foundation and enjoyed the Carpenter Ladies Auxiliary monthly luncheons. At that time she shared her home with several college girls. For more than a decade she went to two nursing homes to visit her mother and mother-in-law and visited people who had few or no visitors. Late in life she was employed by Whatcom County Council on Aging as a tour conductor for the Bellingham Senior Center, and later worked in the office of the Whatcom County motor pool until age 80. An award was presented for 15 years of community service. She showed great courage following colon cancer surgery at age 95 and had no self -pity nor tears, just concern for those caring for her. Her mind remained alert and she was a lifetime avid reader mainly of the Bible and Christian books, also loved poetry, biographies, and political commentaries. She followed current events on television. She also enjoyed the beauty of God’s creation, especially trees, birds, flowers and mountains. Those who preceded her in death were her husband Edward in 1972, her sister, Jean Lund, brothers, George and James Harkness, and lifelong friend June Wiehe. She is survived by her daughters Nancy Totten of Bellingham, Sally (Ray) Dahlgren of Kingman, AZ, grandsons Joel Felton of Seattle, Greg Felton of Seattle and Bradley Felton of Wisconsin, and niece Betty (Don) Boe of Burlington. The family thanks those who contributed to her joy and well being Dr. Stiner, Dr. Cesar for the successful cancer surgery at age 95, Dr. Dawn Hutchison for her compassionate care, good friend Carol Kolody for doing her hair, Grace and Roy Cunningham for many kindnesses over the years, Mary Lou Richardson for her friendship and hand crafted note cards, Pastor Jeff Grant and Billie, and the many friends who have shown their love over the years with prayers, flowers, food, notes, visits and calls. The family extends our heartfelt gratitude to the wonderful staff of Hospice, Hospice House, and a special Hospice volunteer. We are also grateful for the wonderful team of night caregivers. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to The Firs, 4605 Cable Street, Bellingham 98229, or Whatcom Hospice, 2800 Douglas Avenue, Bellingham 98225. Private burial will be at Moles Greenacres Memorial Park. A memorial service will be held Monday, November 26, at 1 PM, at Immanuel Bible Church. Please share memories of Mary online at www.farewelltributes.com Moles Farewell Tributes-Bellingham Farewell Tribute Information A memorial service will be held Monday, November 26, at 1 PM, at Immanuel Bible Church Donations Information In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to The Firs, 4605 Cable Street, Bellingham 98229, or Whatcom Hospice, 2800 Douglas Avenue, Bellingham 98225.

Mary L. Selene

December 8, 1911 - November 14, 2012