Mary Dress, 1930-2015

Published 9:00 am Sunday, June 28, 2015

Mary Louise Dress passed away Saturday, June 20, 2015, peacefully at home in Richland, Washington, after a long battle with lung disease.

Mary Dress

Mary Dress

A celebration of her life will be at 3 p.m. Wednesday at Hillcrest Memorial Center, 9353 W. Clearwater Ave. in Kennewick, Washington, and a reception will follow at Kennewick Ranch and Home, 845 N. Columbia Center Blvd. in Kennewick.

She was born Dec. 12, 1930, in Fairmont. Mary spent most of her early life in Albert Lea and resided in the Tri-Cities for the past 25 years. Mary met George Dress in Albert Lea and the two were married June 9, 1960. They raised three sons there, Steve, Bill and Jeff. Mary made a home where everyone was welcome and always cooked for a housefull. She was the basketball team mom that would drive kids in her station wagon to out of town games. She was always very involved in her sons’ activities. Mary and George lived in many homes while George was selling real estate. She was a very talented decorator and took pride in making a house a home.

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Mary was a dedicated volunteer for the American Cancer Society — having been a cancer survivor herself — and was very generous with her time. In 1990 Mary traveled out to the Tri-Cities with George to visit the Pasco Ranch & Home store that George started. She fell in love with the area so much that she decided to stay. She was very proud of all of her sons’ accomplishments. Mary enjoyed following politics. She cherished time with her family and especially her grandchildren. Her family loves her endlessly and she will be missed by all that knew her.

She was preceded in death by her parents Milford and Elizabeth Brown Hartin; brothers Orville, Jim and Lyle Hartin; and sister, Maxine Thompson.

She is survived by her husband, George Dress, of Richland; sons Steve Sydness (Jan) of Oklahoma City, Bill Dress (Gina) of Richland and Jeff Dress (Tami) of Kennewick; her brother, Jack Hartin; grandchildren Mike Sydnes, Tim Sydnes (Jenny), Bob Sydnes (Alisha), Athena Berg, George, Peter, Brookelyn and Ashlyn and Dylyn Dress; and great-grandchildren Max, Jack, Kimber, Colton Evey, Brooklyn, Katelyn, Conor and Teagan Sydnes.

Memorial donations may be made to Camp Patriot, P.O. Box 627, Libby, Montana 59923-0627; or The Tri-Cities Cancer Center, 7350 W. Deschutes Ave., Building A, Kennewick, WA 99336.

For online condolences, please visit www.AskHillcrest.com.