Birdie Marie Denney passed away on Sept. 7, 2020, at the home of her daughter Winda Adamson and son-in-law Clark McNutt, in Elma, Washington.
Marie was 105 years old and would have been 106 on the first day of November. She moved from her home in Lebam, Washington, to be near her daughter in Elma. She lived in her home there until weeks before her death.
Marie was born on Nov. 1, 1914, to George and Elsie Cornelison Townlian of Webster County, Missouri. She grew up and went to school in and around Seymour, Missouri. She married Winfield Bailey of Seymour and had two children. She later married Gordon Denney of Seymour. She, Gordon and the children moved west in 1939, first to Oregon and then on to Washington to a small logging community of Start-Up, where Gordon worked in the timber industry as a logger.
In 1942, Marie and Gordon moved to Lebam, where they bought a home, worked and raised their children, until Gordon’s death in 1996.
Because most of Marie’s family was in Missouri, she and Gordon traveled in the summer to visit. Marie’s youngest sister, Hazel Longwith, moved to Lebam in the early ’40s with her family. She and her sister were very close and loved each other dearly.
Marie lived in the family home until five years following Gordon’s death. At that time, in May of 2001, she moved to Elma to be near her daughter.
Marie enjoyed being a wife, mother and homemaker. She was a super cook and wowed everyone with her wonderful meals. Her specialty was pie baking — fruit, custards, coconut and creams. Her favorite was little wild blackberry. She was still cooking and baking pies up until the past year.
Marie enjoyed reading and would crochet up a storm. She loved her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren. They were her special joy. The great-greats called her “Super Grandma.”
Marie attended Bethany Baptist Church in Elma and made many friends there. She loved her church family and the Lord.
Marie is survived by her children Winda Adamson, Clark McNutt, Robert Denney and Donna Bononcini all of Elma; three grandchildren: Kirk Adamson (Kathryn) of Bothell, Danita Denney Oster of Winlock, and Angela Denney of Olympia: nine great-grandchildren: Ilena Adamson of Seattle, Peter Adamson (Lauren) of Englewood, Colorado, Josh Oster (Sonja) of Lebam, Becky Oster Leigh of Adna, Colin Hanson of Chehalis, Alyssa Hanson of Doty, Robbie Daily (Hannah) of Adna, Tyler Dailey of Adna and Britney Dailey Snider (Sidney) of Chehalis; and six great-great-grandchildren.
Brothers and sister preceding her in death are Glen Townlian, Helen Sherertz, Eunica Cantrell of Seymour, and Hazel Longwith of Lebam. Surviving brothers and sisters are Gary Townlian (Bonnie) of Seymour, Missouri; Linda Barnett of Marshfield, Missouri; Wilma Smith of Douglas, Kansas; Louverne Wolthius, of Seymour, Missouri and Yvonne Pogue of Bruner, Missouri. Marie also leaves behind numerous nieces and nephews, closest being Winfried (Sharon) Longwith of Raymond and Barbara Howard of Centralia, plus many other beloved ones whom she loved and stayed in touch with her entire life.
Marie was greatly loved and will be lovingly remembered by her friends and family.
A graveside service was held Friday, Sept. 11, at Fern Hill Cemetery in Menlo, Washington. Arrangements are in care of Stoller’s Mortuary in Raymond, Washington. You may visit www.StollersMortuary.com to leave condolences for the family.
