Blanche Maude Stem Brown

Maude Blanche Stem Brown of Bellingham, Washington went home to be with our Lord and Savior in Twin Falls Idaho on December 27, 2010 at St Luke's Magic Valley REgional Medical Center. She was born April 25, 1919 in Lynden, Washington, the daughter of Otto Grastin Brown and Goldie Owings Brown, one of 4 sisters, Mary Ellen Purvis, Ruth Goodman, Carol June Moore, Dorothy Huppert and one brother Buster who all proceeded her in death. Her father was the first motor cycle side car policeman and detective in Belling ham and was killed in the line of duty when she was about 9 years of age. Prior to his death, she and her family moved to Bellingham around 1924 to their new home on Henry Street. She was in the first graduating class at the new Bellingham High School. Her goal was to be a stewardess, at that time the airlines required you to be a nurse. She completed 4 years of nurses training at St Lukes Hospital, Western College and did her practicum at the county hospital in Whatcom County on Northwest Road. She married Hoyt Leighton Mahon (Jack) who was born in Laurel, Washington, he moved to Long Beach California as a young boy where his father was a developer and in the oil business. He also developed in Bellingham. Hoyt was educated at Fox Military Academy in West Los Angeles. Hoyt and Blanche were married in Nevada around 1942 and they lived in West Los Angles, California where their first daughter Orpha was born in 1943 at Lincoln Memorial Hospital. They returned to Bellingham and purchased a farm in Marietta on Rural Avenue next to his aunt Celeste and uncle Burse (relatives of his mother) large chicken ranch. Their second daughter Hannah-Leah was born in 1944 at St Luke's Hospital in Bellingham Their third child William Otto (Buster) was also born at St Luke's in 1947. In 1949 the family moved to Redding California where Blanche worked for Dr. Wyatt and Dr. Charles as their head nurse for many years. She was also charge nurse at Reading Memorial Hospital in OB. She delivered her first grandson Tracey and later Ronald Shawn on her birthday. Blanche was open to improve health through nutrition. She was mentored by Dr. Rehnberg the founder of Nutrilite Food supplements in Buena Park and Hemet Valley in southern California. She was one of the original 12 that helped establish the first multi-level distribution and marketing plan in California and Washington along with her advisers Rich Devos and Jay Vanandel the future founders of Amway. Her daughters were also mentored by them from the ages of 9 & 11. Her avocation for nutrition continued through her entire life. Blanche returned to her family home in Bellingham to take care of her ailing mother. During this time she worked for Dr. Boynton and later Dr. Kimmel in their goal to introduce and study chelation therapy, multi vitamins and minerals IV for terminal cancer and heart patients. Hundreds of lives were saved and today it is used through out the United States. She was devoted to her family during times of health crisis and traveled to Arizona, California, Colorado and Washington. She would take leave of absence from her work and travel to where ever she was needed. In her late 70's and early 80's she did private duty nursing for prominent families in Bellingham and Colorado. She had a hair comb collection started by her mother and exhibited at numerous county fairs. As a young woman she was a cross country skier at Mt. Baker and an avid swimmer. She swam across Bellingham Bay and would often swim laps for charity at the YMCA in her 80's. Prior to that she would regularly swim laps with her sister Mary Ellen. She loved the Lord and had gone through the bible with Jay Vernon McGee 5 times (each time takes 5 years) Her family was one of the founding members of Immanuel Bible Church on Lynn and North. They were all accomplished musicians. She also loved world and current events and was a walking news station until her death. She loved adventure and in her early 80's traveled with her son in-law Bob Messner on several short road trips on the back of his Harley with her dew scarf. She traveled to Twin Falls, Idaho in December 2009 to be with her daughter Hannah-Leah and son in law who is a physician. She was ailing and wanted her life back. During the year she was restored to a better quality of life and was planning to go to Jerusalem, (her life's time dream), in May of 2011. Every night she would hug and kiss her father's photo of him on the motor cycle and side car and say, " I can't wait to see you daddy." From her "sweetest sweetie pies," the name she called her children and grandchildren. Blanche is survived by her children - William Otto Mahon of Bellingham, Washington, Hannah-Leah Mahon-Enomoto and her husband Dr. Dennis Enomoto of Twin Falls, Orpha Shamoon of Bellingham, Washington, Brother in Law - Jim Hubbard of Alaska, along with eight grandchildren, and 6 great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, four sisters - Mary Ellen, Ruth, Carol June, and Dorothy, and one brother -Buster. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, January 4, 2011 from 10:00 A.M. to 11:30 A.M. at the Immanuel Bible Church in Bellingham, WA with funeral services following at 12:00 P.M. Graveside services will follow at 2:00 P.M. at the Enterprise Cemetery in Ferndale, Washington.