Hattie Arlene McGuire

Hattie Arlene McGuire

July 1,1932- May 1, 2024

Hattie Arlene McGuire, aged 91, passed away peacefully in Walla Walla, Wash., on May 1,

2024. Arlene personified love, kindness, warmth, loyalty, thoughtfulness, resilience, and generosity, all woven seamlessly together. To her many grandchildren, she was the best grandma ever: a heroine, a paragon of faith, strength, integrity, and love. Above all, Arlene epitomized the essence of family. She was a beloved caretaker and a strong and enduring presence behind the scenes, quietly holding everyone close and filling hearts with memories.

Arlene was born in Weston, Oregon, on July 1,1932, to the late Dale and Veryl Erickson. She grew up on a small ranch on Weston Mountain and graduated from Weston High School. In

September 1950, she married Bruce LaVern McGuire, her school sweetheart and the absolute love of her life. In 2021, they celebrated their 71st wedding anniversary. Together they raised a family of four children: Dennis (Janet), Pam (John), Tami (Robert), and Teresa (Joel). The family grew to include eleven grandchildren and fifteen great-grandchildren.

Arlene and Bruce initially resided in Oregon, calling North Powder, Hermiston, and Athena home before eventually settling in Davenport, Washington, where they raised their children. They built a cabin along the banks of the Spokane River which became a cherished haven of joy and camaraderie for family and friends. Arlene's cooking talent and warm hospitality brought family, friends, neighbors and the community together. While the crowd was swimming, water skiing, and playing volleyball, Arlene was busy whipping up a feast–cooking was truly her love language. They later expanded the cabin and it became their home.

Arlene and Bruce were a formidable team, working side by side for years at Davenport Chemicals before starting their own farm chemicals business, GroMor, in 1985. While Bruce was often in the spotlight, Arlene was the driving force behind the scenes, significantly contributing to the company's success. Through their dedication and hard work, they grew the business before eventually selling it to The McGregor Company in 1993.

Arlene had a magical green thumb, cultivating an abundance of vegetables and filling her yard with thousands of exquisite flowers. Gardening was her passion, and she delighted in canning, cooking alongside her family, experimenting with new recipes, and perusing cookbooks. She treasured time with her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren, spending much of that time playing cards and games, including family favorite dirty board competitions.

Arlene dedicated her time and talents to serving her communities, including her church, where she baked goods and crafted items for bazaars and actively engaged in groups like the Methodist Women and Circle. She volunteered as a Sunday School teacher and participated in organizations like the Davenport Study Club and Republican Women. When her children were young, she spent many hours volunteering in the classroom and serving as the room mother for events and school parties.

When they retired, Bruce and Arlene traveled across the country in their RV and took several international trips before settling in Yuma, Arizona, where she easily made many new friends and found a loving community. Arlene loved to volunteer her time and talents to help those in need through Helping Hands of Yuma, including driving seniors to medical appointments, volunteering at fundraising events, and supporting the organization.

Arlene had a knack for making everyone feel special, including those she met at Wheatland Village Senior Home, where she spent her final years. She was adored by the residents, staff, caregivers, and servers and even "adopted" more grandchildren among the Wheatland staff.

Arlene was always there for her family, offering a comforting cup of homemade soup or just the right words when her kids were sick, whether they were six or sixty. She offered advice and exchanged recipes and cooking tips over the phone and made special birthday dinners with expertly decorated cakes. Arlene planned shopping weekends with her daughters to spend time together, took all the grandchildren to Disneyland when they turned six years old, and held coffee dates and game show nights with granddaughters clad in robes and slippers.

Although Arlene was gentle and kind, she definitely had a competitive side, particularly when it came to winning at cards and baking perfect pies. All the card players at Wheatland wanted to be her partner because she was fierce and almost always won. In her early years working at a ski resort, she would hop out of bed at the crack of dawn each day and whip up 50 delicious pies for guests. Arlene never needed a recipe for her pies and could practically bake them with her eyes closed! It was a skill she held dear and one that her three daughters never mastered (although they were much happier to eat their Mom's anyway).

Arlene's passing creates a huge hole in the hearts of all who knew her, but her legacy lives on through her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren who learned from her the value of hard work, the beauty of growing things, the importance of serving others, and the joy of cooking. They strive to make the ultimate pie crusts, win at cards, and cut vegetables into perfect little squares just like her. Arlene leaves behind countless memories of the love and warmth she brought into so many lives.

A Celebration of Arlene's Life will be held on Friday, June 14, 2024 at 10:30 a.m. in the Chapel at Wheatland Village Senior Living, 1500 Catherine Street, Walla Walla, Wash. The service will be followed by interment at the Weston Cemetery, in Weston, Oregon, at 1:30 p.m. and a family luncheon at Boyer House, 571 Boyer Avenue, Walla Walla, Wash.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Meals on Wheels at the Walla Walla Senior Citizens Center at 720 Sprague Street, Walla Walla, Wash, 99362. Cards and memories can be sent to Teresa Poppen at 851 W. Front Street Suite 1702, Boise, Idaho, 83702, or tgpoppen@gmail.com. To leave a condolence online visit: http://www.munsellerhodes.com