Mary Lancaster

Mary Ann Lancaster November 4, 1937 - March 22, 2022 East Wenatchee, Washington Mary Ann Lancaster, 84, passed away from lung cancer at her home in East Wenatchee while comforted by her three daughters. Mary was born in Vancouver, Washington to Laura Shultz and Richard Birdsall, and was raised in Sultan, Washington. She met the love of her life (Joe) when a good friend stopped to offer her a ride home. She rode on the stranger's lap in the backseat and when he got out of the car she watched in amazement as he kept getting taller and taller! It was love at first sight and the pair were married shortly after her graduation from Sultan High School in 1955. Mary and Joe made their home in East Wenatchee where Joe had been born and raised. There they raised three daughters, JoAnn, Laura, and Marie, and enjoyed raising a variety of animals, fruits, and vegetables on their mini-farm. In these early years, she enjoyed many outdoor activities with her family, fishing, camping, and hiking. Mary guided the girls in their activities with campfire girls and 4-H. She took up knitting and crocheting and sewed many clothes for her and the girls making them all matching easter dresses for many years. While primarily a very busy homemaker she had a knack for numbers and worked as a bookkeeper for the Wenatchee Kemco Federal Credit Union and as a tax preparer with H&R Block. In the summers, Mary worked at Hedges Custom Cannery on Rock Island Road where she was a speed demon at steaming, peeling, and canning all types of fruit and tomatoes. Mary was a kind and generous mother, wife, neighbor, and friend. In her later years, she found time to follow sports and was an avid fan of the Mariners, Seahawks, and Atlanta Braves. She enjoyed watching sports of all kinds including baseball, football, car racing, golf, bowling, wrestling, and the Olympics. She loved gardening in her flower beds, and she kept daily notes in her journal. She loved bunnies and had amassed such an extensive bunny collection over the years that her great-grandchildren affectionately called her "Grandma Bunny". Mary is survived by her three daughters, JoAnn (Jim) Shingleton, East Wenatchee; Laura Ashbrook (Steve Ball), Wenatchee; Marie (Scott) Telecky of Bellevue, WA; siblings Richard Toyer, Everett, WA; Janet (Zac) West Chewelah, WA; Mike Birdsall and Steve Birdsall; her eight grandchildren, Jason Peltz (Kassie Reyes) , Spokane, WA; Jay (Jasmine) Ervin Roseburg, OR; Jessica (Nathan) Hicks, Muncie, IN; Scott Callihan (Jennifer Wood), Bellevue, WA; Lisa (Robert) Bennett, Auburn, WA; Sam (Misty) Ashbrook, Ollala, WA; Zeke (Amanda) Telecky, Wenatchee; Zach Telecky, Wenatchee; and twelve great-grandchildren, Orion (Rachel) Peltz, Tacoma, WA; Zoe Ervin and Aria Ervin, both of Eugene, OR; Kayla Hicks and Andrew Hicks both of Muncie, IN; Cyric Peltz and Malachai Peltz both of East Wenatchee; Emma Bennett and Aden Bennett both of Auburn, WA; Eleanor Telecky and Alice Telecky both of Wenatchee; and Adora (Sean) Burdulis of Seattle, WA. Mary was preceded in death by her husband Joe Lancaster, mother Laura Shultz, father Richard Birdsall, stepfather Henry "Bud" Toyer, stepmother Bertha Gilmore, and her siblings Delores "Dee Dee" Smith and Fred "Freddie" Toyer. A Celebration of Life will be held on April 9, 2022, at 11:00 am at Heritage Memorial Chapel followed by a graveside service at Evergreen Memorial Park with a continued time of sharing and lunch at Mary's home in East Wenatchee. You are invited to view Mary's online tribute at www.HeritageMemorialChapel.com to share a memory or leave a condolence. Arrangements are in the care of Heritage Memorial Chapel, East Wenatchee & Cashmere.