Mary Kloose Arrowsmith

Mary Kloose was born in Cottonwood, California on January 5th, 1930, to Charles and Nora Kloose as the eleventh of twelve children who would reach adulthood. She passed peacefully into the arms of her Savior at her home of many years in Red Bluff, California on December 4th, 2023, after a short illness.

In 1948, she graduated from Red Bluff High School, where she met Ralph Arrowsmith. In May of 1949, when he returned from his time in Japan with the Army Air Forces, they eloped to Reno because they “both had the day off”. They originally lived in Red Bluff, then moved, and settled in Dairyville and had four sons: Rick, Nate, Matt, and Tim. Ralph worked at the telephone company while she kept a home, maintained many jobs and pursued various passions throughout her life and well into her and Ralph’s retirement. From her four boys she would welcome eleven grandchildren, and fourteen great-grandchildren. Her devotion to her family was unmatched. She never missed an event and the sound of her cowbell at high school football games will not soon be forgotten. Her abilities were boundless: she loved to cook and bake sweets for her grandchildren, she mended clothes, painted landscapes, and was constantly experimenting in her enormous garden with new foods and flowers. She was a devoted servant of her Lord. From her early twenties when she first embraced Christianity and was baptized in Cottonwood Creek, until her last moments, she lived and breathed His love and would tell anyone she met the source of her joy. She was certain of her salvation and looked forward to seeing God face to face. She was a lifelong member of The First Church of the Nazarene until age and infirmity prevented weekly attendance. Mary was predeceased by her father, Charles Kloose; mother, Nora Kloose; eleven siblings, Bob Kloose, Erma Fields, Idella Cofer, Effie Douglas, Carl Kloose, Dorothy Knox, Anna McCray, Alice Kinkey, Sonny Kloose, Hollis Kloose, and Carroll Kloose; and her beloved son, Nate Arrowsmith. She is survived by her husband of 74 years, Ralph; her sons Rick (Carla) Arrowsmith, Matt (Tammi) Arrowsmith, and Tim (Jody) Arrowsmith; her eleven grandchildren, her great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews. Services will be held at Cottonwood Creek School in the cafeteria/church on January 6th, 2024, at 12pm (noon); an informal opportunity to remember Mary will follow. She will then be interred at the Veterans’ Cemetery in Igo, California alongside her son.