Mary West Woolum

Mary Idell West Woolum, 86

Beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and sister, Mary Idell West Woolum, 86, of Kellogg, Idaho, passed away August 16, 2017 at the Kindred Nursing & Rehabilitation-Mountain Valley of Kellogg.  She was born January 19, 1931 in Orofino, Idaho; Mary was the daughter of Harry and Nona (Walker) West.

Mary attended and graduated from the Orofino High School of Orofino, Idaho in 1949.  She then attended and graduated from the University of Idaho with a Bachelors Degree in education.

Mary married Raymond “Pert” H. Woolum on June 15, 1952 in Orofino.  After their marriage, Mary moved to the Silver Valley in 1952.

Mary served as an elementary school teacher.  She began her teaching career in 1951; she had first taught school in Weippe, Idaho.  After moving to the Silver Valley, she taught at the Lincoln school, the Silver King school and the Sunnyside Elementary of Kellogg.  Before retiring in  1988, Mary served as Director and had implemented the Talented and Gifted program for the Kellogg School District.

Mary was a member of the Parent Teachers Association, the Delta Kappa Gamma, the American Association of University Women, a member and past president of the West Shoshone Education Association, a very active member of the Idaho Education Association, a member of the Retired Educators of North Idaho and had served on the Kellogg Library Board.  Mary was also a member of the United Church of Kellogg and had volunteered for the Silver Valley Habitat for Humanity, now know as the Silver Valley Fuller Center for Housing.
Mary loved and enjoyed her family, gardening, reading, attending community concerts and attending plays at the Sixth Street Melodrama of Wallace and the Coeur d’ Alene Summer Theatre.

Mary is survived by three children Bill Woolum and his wife Debbie of Greenbelt, Maryland; Christy Woolum and her husband Everett Jolley of Kellogg, Idaho; and Carol and Paul Roberts of Kellogg; six grandchildren Molly Roberts-Cornwell, Zoe Roberts, Cosette Roberts, Adrienne Diedrich, Patrick Hennessey and Molly Diaz; four great-grandchildren Olivia, David, Ana and Jack; one brother Bob West of Orofino, Idaho; two nieces Judy Coomer of Boise, Idaho and Lura Mullikin of Orofino.  Mary was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Ray “Pert” Woolum, one sister Lila Zimbauer and one nephew John Baugh.

A Celebration of Mary’s Life will be held on Friday, October 6, 2017, at 11:00 A.M. at the Mountain View Congregational Church (formerly the United Church of Kellogg) with Mary’s son Bill Woolum officiating.  A reception and a gathering of family and friends will be held at the home of Carol and Paul Roberts following services.  Inurnment will be held at the Greenwood Cemetery of Kellogg.
The family suggests that memorials may be made to the Kellogg Public Library, 16 E. Market Ave. Kellogg, Idaho 83837 or to the Silver Valley Fuller Center for Housing, P.O. Box 338, Smelterville, Idaho 83868.
One may sign Mary’s online guest book at www.shoshonefuneralservice.com
SHOSHONE FUNERAL SERVICES & CREMATORY KELLOGG, IDAHO is entrusted with
funeral arrangements.