Mary B. Vanderwood

Longtime Cathlamet resident, Mary B. Vanderwood, 77, passed away March 23, 2011 at OHSU in Portland. She was born March 31, 1933 in El Centro, Calif. to Ladislao and Maria (Casarez) Camacho. Mary graduated from Calexico High School in 1950. On August 13, 1955 she married Joseph Vanderwood in Yuma, Ariz .; he survives her at home.

Mary and Joe moved to Cathlamet in 1974. Being bilingual, Mary was able to use her gifts to serve Wahkiakum County in many special ways. She worked as an aide in several programs at Wahkiakum Schools, as an officer for Wahkiakum County Crime Prevention and also served as an interpreter for over 30 years. Her passions were her family and her flower garden.

In addition to her husband Joe, she is survived by her daughters Shirley Yoakum, Theresa Runkle (Steve), Patty Anderson (Scott) and Janna Doumit (Steve); a foster son Jose Valencia; her brothers Paul, Manuel and Danny Camacho; a sister Elena Beyers; 17 grandchildren, 12 and a 1/2 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by six siblings.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 4 p.m., Friday, April 1, 2011 at Heritage Bible Church on Puget Island. Memorial contributions may be made in Mary Vanderwood’s name to The Smile Train, P.O. Box 96231, Washington D.C., 20090-6231; Boys Town, http://www.boystown.org or Cowlitz County Humane Society, P.O. Box 172, Longview, WA 98632.

Dowling Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.