Ava L. Madren

Passed away September 20, 2010, shortly before her 96th birthday, with her family by her side. She was born October 13, 1914, the third of eight children, in Canton, Montana (near Townsend). She grew up on the family ranch where they raised cattle and sheep. She attended school at the Duck Creek Rural School and high school in Townsend. In 1934, Ava moved to Spokane where she graduated from North Western Business College. She and her husband, Gerald, raised three daughters. Ava and Gerald enjoyed life together for 35 years, before his death in 1972. In addition to being a homemaker, she worked part-time in the family business – Madren Brothers Studebaker and Toyota auto dealerships. She was always involved in her daughters’ activities. She was PTA President of Arlington Elementary School and Hillyard Primary School, a Girl Scout Assistant Leader, fifty-year member of Order of the Eastern Star and a member of the Ivanhoe Chapter Auxiliary. Also, she was active in the Order of Rainbow for Girls, serving as Mother Advisor for Jewel Assembly for several years and attained the highly coveted Grand Cross of Colors. She was a thirty year member of Beta Sigma Phi Sorority, a member of Trinity United Methodist Church, and served on the Volunteer Program board for Spokane Public Schools. Ava enjoyed travelling (especially cruises), sewing, crafts and ceramics. She was preceded in death by her husband, Gerald; parents, John “Bert” and Olive Plymale; brother, Wayne Plymale, and his wife, Louise; brother, Laird Plymale, and his wife, Eva; sister, Doris Shearer; sister, Inez Shaw, and her husband, George; brother-in-law, Umbert Quist; sisters-in-law, Ann Plymale, Anna Plymale and Arlene Plymale; and brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Wayne and Blanche Madren. She is survived by her daughters, Carol Ross, Nancy Hull, Bette Teter and sons-in-law, Bob Ross and Wayne Teter, all of Spokane; grandchildren, Klint Hull, and wife, Kristie, of Longview, WA, Brent Hull and wife, Mara, of Galt, CA, Kim Moore and husband, Rick and Bill Ross, all of Spokane; great-granddaughter, Sydney Hull; great-grandsons, Bobby, Brady and Blake Moore; sister, Audrey Quist, and brother, Fred Plymale of Helena, MT; brother, Hubert Plymale of Townsend, MT; brother-in-law, Ken Shearer of Helena, MT; and numerous nieces and nephews. Ava’s family extends their deepest gratitude to Fondi and Ted Blewett and staff at the Whitworth Adult Family Home for their devotion to her care during the last months of her life. A celebration of her life will be held at 1:30pm, Saturday, September 25, 2010 at Ball & Dodd Funeral Home. Visitation will be from 2:00 till 8:00pm, Friday, September 24, 2010. Interment at Fairmount Memorial Park. Memorial contributions in Ava’s name may be made to: Horizon Hospice, 123 W. Cascade Way, Ste E, Spokane, WA 99208 or to a charity of your choice.