MaryEllen Lilwall Obituary

MaryEllen Lilwall of Walla Walla, WA, passed away on the morning of July 22, 2025, at Regency at the Park at the age of 73, surrounded by her family.

MaryEllen was born on June 11, 1952, in Crescent City, CA, to Edward and Virginia Vernon and was the youngest of their three daughters.

MaryEllen married the love of her life, William Henry Lilwall, on July 26, 1978, in Roseburg, Oregon. During the early part of their 47 years together, they had their son, Jeremy Lilwall, in November of 1978, and daughter, (Amber) Mackenzie Christenson, in May of 1982. From day one, MaryEllen was also a loving and supportive presence for her grandchildren, Kyro and Vella Lilwall.

During MaryEllen’s professional career, she excelled as a banker, an aerobics instructor, and an administrative assistant. She served for many years as the Office Manager for Clark Arias Physical Therapy in Walla Walla, where she was beloved by coworkers and patients alike. Clark Arias was her employer until her retirement in 2020.

Along with prioritizing time with family and friends, MaryEllen was an avid gardener, an animal lover (especially cats!), a generous gift-giver, a savvy pinochle player, an annual Bloomsday walker, a master shopper, and a music, travel, and exercise enthusiast. In recent years, MaryEllen showed her creativity through building vibrant fairy gardens and photographing some of the most beautiful sunsets that the Walla Walla Valley had to offer.

MaryEllen was preceded in death by her parents, Ed Vernon and Virginia Vernon (nee Young). She is survived by her husband, Bill; her two sisters, Donnah-Rae DeVernon Pearson and Linda Bremner; her children, Jeremy (& Kynde) Lilwall and Mackenzie (& Cory) Christensen; and her grandchildren, Kyro and Vella Lilwall, as well as her beloved pets: Coco, Blue, and Dandelion, and her grandcats: Kitty, Boone, Finn, Gizmo, and Kookoo.

Special thanks to the staff at Regency at the Park, Walla Walla Community Hospice, Herring Groseclose Funeral Home, and all of MaryEllen’s family, neighbors, and friends for their thoughtful care.

Rosary Services will be held for MaryEllen on Thursday, August 7, 2025, at 6:00 PM at the Chapel of the Herring Funeral Home. The Placement of Ashes will be held at Mountain View Cemetery, Memorial Gardens Circle, led by Father Barnett, on Friday, August 8, 2025, at 10:00 AM, with a Reception at Assumption Church to follow at 11:00 AM.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Blue Mountain Humane Society or the ALS Foundation through the Herring Groseclose Funeral Home, 315 W Alder St, Walla Walla, WA 99362. Friends and family are invited to sign the online guestbook at www.herringgroseclose.com.