WALRAVEN, Mary

The White Mountain Independent, Show Low, Arizona ~ September 21, 2009 Mary Sherman-Walraven died peacefully Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2009, at Hospice Compassus in Pinetop-Lakeside. Mary was born Jan. 7, 1925, in Tucson to Lawrence and Mary Jane Hayes. After spending her girlhood in Tucson, Florence and Coolidge, her family moved to Parker where she met and married Herb Sherman in 1943. They had two daughters, Lysbeth and Bonnie, who were raised in Casa Grande. She was proud to be a member of the Arizona Artists Guild and Arizona Watercolor Association. Mary won national as well as many state and local awards. Her paintings may be found in galleries and collections, both corporate and private, across the country. She and Herb moved to Washington State in 1976 and fulfilled a lifelong dream of restoring an old home. Herb passed away in 1985. She married James Walraven in 1989. They enjoyed 16 years together before he passed. Mary returned to Arizona to live in August of this year. She is survived by John and Bonnie Heal of Snowflake and their six children, Jim and Lys Bates of Columbus, Ohio, and their two children; and 15 great-grandchildren. A rosary was recited at Our Lady of the Snow Catholic Church in Snowflake Saturday, Sept. 19, with a memorial mass following. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hospice Compassus, 1789 W. Commerce Dr., Lakeside, AZ 85929. Arrangements were under the direction of Black's Mortuary of Show Low. Sign an online guest book or offer private condolences at www.blacksmortuary.com