Gloria M. Mehrens
Gloria Marie Mehrens passed away on December 4, 2014 after a valiant two-year battle with cancer. She went to be with her Lord surrounded by her loving family and friends.
Gloria was born in Centralia, Washington to Gabrielle Girou and Emile Longville on May 18, 1930. A lifetime resident of Renton, Washington, she lived on Tobin Avenue/South Tobin Street her entire life, and it was there where she met Gloria Delaurenti Duffey, who would remain her closest friend for over eighty years. She attended Henry Ford elementary school in Renton and graduated from Renton High School in 1948. She had tremendous musical talent and enrolled at Central Washington College of Education, first as a violin performance major. While at Central, she became interested in teaching as a career and went on to receive her B.A. in Education in 1952.
She first taught for the Northshore School District and eventually found her way to the Seattle Public School District, where she taught kindergarten and first grade at Emerson Elementary School until her retirement in 1983. She also served the Seattle Public Schools as a Helping Teacher, Reading Consultant and Supervising Teacher, where she mentored and guided cadet teachers for Western Washington University.
While at Emerson Elementary School, she met her future husband, and great love of her life, George F. Mehrens, Jr. They were married in 1958 and remained married until George’s passing in 2012. George was a Teacher, Helping Teacher, Consultant and Administrator and, in 1977, he began working for Western Washington University as a Clinical Professor in their Clinical Program. In 1959, Gloria gave birth to a son, Christopher, who became a Musicologist, and who is currently an Administrator and Head of the Music Library at Arizona State University, Tempe.
Beyond her family, Gloria’s interests included education, music, art, gardening, and cookery. She co-authored two education books with Karen Wick, Bagging it with Puppets! Paper bag puppets to introduce the alphabet and letter/sound recognition (1988) and It’s all in the bag! A whole-language approach to introducing the alphabet and letter/sound recognition (1990). As a violinist, she was a long-time member of the Seattle Philharmonic and other musical organizations. She was an extraordinary watercolorist specializing in landscapes, still-lifes and “whimsies” featuring her cherished cat, Kitty Meow. She also took great pride in her flower and vegetable gardens.
Gloria is survived by her beloved son Dr. Christopher Mehrens of Scottsdale, Arizona, her devoted brother-in-law James Mehrens, cousins Alice and Rudy Forhan, and other extended family members. She said on numerous occasions how blessed he was in having such a wonderful husband and son, and was extraordinarily proud of their accomplishments. She was also grateful for the numerous friends who became an essential part of her life, especially those who unconditionally supported her during her final illness. Finally, she was deeply appreciative for the extraordinary care given her by the numerous healthcare professionals and aides over the past two years.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance (Attn: Donations, P.O. Box 19023, Seattle, WA 98109-1023) ; or the EvergreenHealth Foundation [to support hospice care] (12040 NE 128th St, MS 5, Kirkland, WA, 98034-3013).
A Rosary and Funeral service was held on Thursday, December 11, 2014, 11:00am at Greenwood Funeral Home 350 Monroe Ave NE Renton, WA 98056.
