Ida Rearick

Obituary of Ida Mae Rearick

Ida Mae (Devore) Rearick was born November 28, 1923 in DesMoines, Iowa, the daughter of John S. and Josie B. Blackwood Devore. She was raised by her mother, a practical nurse who specialized in child care, in and around Minneapolis, Minnesota where Ida Mae graduated from Central High School in 1942. She died June 7, 2005 at her home in Lacey after a five-year valiant fight with breast cancer. In 1944 she began attending Greenville College, Illinois, where she met William D. Rearick. They both graduated in June 1948 and were married in Minneapolis on August 20. Their wedding trip was a day coach ride to Los Angeles where they began their teaching careers at Los Angeles Pacific College and High School. Their son, William Daniel III, was born in Glendale, California during that term of service. In 1952 they began a two-year service at Central College in McPherson, Kansas where their daughter, Pamela Kristin (Deck), was born. When they returned to Los Angeles Pacific in 1954, Ida Mae began teaching at San Gabriel Christian Elementary day school. In 1960 the Rearicks moved to Seattle where Ida Mae began a 27-year career in the Seattle Public Schools in both special education and elementary classrooms having served at Brighton, Whittier, Briarcliff, and Blaine Elementary Schools. Ida Mae pursued graduate work in Education at Seattle Pacific (College) University. She retired in 1987 with commendation from King TV and Sylvan Learning Centers for teaching excellence and service to the Seattle School District. The Rearicks relocated to Lacey, Washington 13 years ago after her husband's retirement. Ida Mae and Bill were active members of the Hermon Free Methodist Church (Los Angeles) and First Free Methodist Church (Seattle) as choir members and Homebuildrers. They were later members of Seattle First Presbyterian, Lacey Presbyterian, and currently Westminster Presbyterian (Olympia). Ida Mae's special ministry at the Lacey church was watering, feeding, and pruning the plants in the church narthex. Another of Ida Mae's quiet ministries was sending birthday, anniversary, get well, and thinking-of-you cards. On her current list 271 names appear. She shared God's love with her family and extended family--those whom God had given her to love. For many years her mother, her husband's mother and aunt all made their home with Ida Mae and Bill. She leaves her husband of 56 years, William D. Rearick II; her son, William D. Rearick III of Kent, Washington and his daughters, Nicole Rearick, of Milton, Washington and Carrie Bernier and her husband Dan Bernier and their daughter, Savannah Jo, of Des Moines, Washington; her daughter, Pamela Deck and her husband David E. Deck and their son Colin and daughter Emily of Olympia, Washington; her brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Daniel R. and Roberta Rearick Hanna of Stanwood, Washington; her extended family sister, Phyllis Thomas of Los Angeles, California; her extended family daughters, Joan Banks of Olympia, Washington, Dar Barnes and her daughter Amber of Olympia, Chrys Masuda and her daughter Ellen of Hotchkiss, Colorado; her extended family son, Cass Benedict of McDermott, Ohio; and extended family grandson, Lee Tran of Yelm, Washington. Over her 81 years, and more recently at Westfield Capital Mall in Olympia, she made many friends who also mourn her death. In lieu of flowers, please make contributions to the Neighborhood Free Medical Clinic, P.O. Box 8711, Lacey, Washington, 98509.
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