Obituary of Gloria Maier

Maier, Gloria Constance (Girnus) (84) passed away Friday, September 3, 2010 surrounded by family at Hospice House of Spokane due to complications from cancer. She was born October 15, 1925 in Lovell, Wyoming to Emily and Gustav Girnus. As a child her family lived various places in Montana and several years in Chewelah, Washington. They later moved to Spokane where Gloria graduated from Holy Names Academy in 1944. That same year she met and married Reuben Maier and moved to the family farm in Ritzville. During her early years on the farm she raised three children and took pleasure in working with her horses and extensive iris garden. Gloria also cherished the time spent with family at their cabin on Deer Lake. After her children were grown she began working at Marcellus Soil Service as a bookkeeper where her husband also worked. Gloria loved the ocean and lighthouses and looked forward to annual trips to the Oregon coast. She also enjoyed antiques and collecting Hallmark ornaments as she took pride in decorating her home and tree for the Christmas holiday. She was preceded in death by her husband Reuben Maier, daughter Linda Thomason, and brothers: Gus, Walt, Bill and Ray Girnus. She is survived by a son, Steve Maier and wife Sandy of Kennewick, daughter Valerie Maier of Ritzville, son-in-law Tom Thomason of Winchester, Idaho, sisters Dolly McCormick of Oregon and Rosemary Mobbs of Arkansas, grandchildren Byron Thomason and Julie Erickson of Idaho, Shari, Steve and Sally Maier of Oregon and four great-grandchildren. Visitation will be Friday September 10, 2010 from 12 Noon to 5 PM at Danekas Funeral Home-Ritzville. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 AM, Saturday, September 11, 2010 at St. Agnes Catholic Church in Ritzville. Interment will be at Ritzville memorial Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Ritzville EMT's, Hospice of Spokane or G.C.A.O. Cat Haven Project.