ALBION – Mary Jean Bradley Amende, 87, passed away April 1, 2012 at her home with her family. Mary was born November 11, 1924 in Malad, Idaho, the fourth of six children born to Iver and Bobbie Routh (Pickett) Bradley. Raised in Malad and Pocatello Valley, she attended Malad schools, graduating valedictorian of her high school class. Following high school graduation, she came to Albion to attend summer school at Albion State Normal School. Her college education was interrupted for a year when she crossed the country by troop train at age 17 to work in the Pentagon. She graduated from Albion State Normal School with a teaching certificate, but married Keith Amende of Albion the day after on June 1, 1944. They were married in the historic Albion Methodist Church, currently the Albion Church of Christ, where they later celebrated their 50th and 60th wedding anniversaries.

Their first home was in Albion, but they moved to the family dry farm, homesteaded in 1909, just north of Albion in 1946. While Keith served a brief stint in the Army Air Corps at the end of World War II, Mary stayed with her widowed mother and a sister in Salt Lake City, UT. The first of their six daughters was born just two days before he shipped out for Okinawa. Mary’s family meant the world to her. She was very involved in her husband’s activities and her daughters’ education and activities, and was supportive of her grandchildren. She was a foster mother to 26 children over 11 years.

Mary was always a service-oriented person and believed in self improvement. She was an active member of the PTA at all levels, serving as state president from 1976-78; the General Federation of Women’s Clubs (GFWC Albion Four Leaf Clover Club), serving as state president from 1990-92; the Grange; the Cassia County and Albion Historical societies; the ASN/SICE Alumni Assoc. for which she published the annual newsletter; the American Legion Auxiliary at local and district levels; and the Iris Club in Burley. She was a 4-H leader for more than 45 years.

As a team, Keith and Mary worked together in the Adopt-A-Highway cleanup program; the Red Cross blood drive; the Ground Observer Corps and the senior citizens. They chaired two countywide July 4 celebrations and served on the Albion Community Relations Committee that directed the hometown July 4 celebration for several years. They were members of the Albion Chamber of Commerce until it dissolved and the Albion Quick Response Unit when it first organized.

As a member of the Albion Church of Christ, Mary taught bible classes for all ages. She taught classes and was a speaker for Christian college lectureships, Ladies Days and ladies church camps. She taught a weekly local ladies Bible class in her home for several years. One of her favorite activities was correspondence courses with foreign students through World Bible School.

Mary found time for her hobbies, which included crocheting, embroidering, reading, baking pies, listening to her large music collection, taking pictures and creating photo albums, writing and painting. She was nearly always available when someone needed a listening ear of helping hand. She also enjoyed entertaining and opening her home to others.

Mary received many honors through the years. Most recently, she and Keith received the Community Citizen Award for their community service. They were selected as Idaho Grange Young Couple of the Year in 1958 and 1959, honored as Farmer Couple of the Year by the Chamber of Commerce and recognized by the Red Cross. Mary was inducted into the Idaho 4-H Leaders hall of Fame and honored by GFWC Idaho as a Distinguished Clubwoman of the Year. She was named as a Lady of the Year by the local sororities and Woman of the Year by the Soroptomists for her community service.

Mary is survived by her husband, Keith of Albion; four daughters, Mary Lynne (Bruce) Bristol of Albion, Sharon (Bill) Tyson of Salt Lake City; Gloria West of Rupert and Carol Amende of Albion; two sisters, Beryl Jenkins of Elko, NV; and Ruby Hammel of Salt Lake City, UT; two sons-in-law, Joe Phillips of Rupert and Jim Stopper of Oregon City, OR; a special daughter, Dovie Carlson of Boise; nine grandchildren; and nine great grandchildren. Mary was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers; one sister; and two daughters, Anne Marie Phillips and Susan Stopper.

The funeral for Mary will be held April 7 at the Morrison Funeral Home in Rupert, ID with Herman Pope officiating. The graveside will follow at the Albion Pleasant Hill Cemetery.

The family wishes to express a very big thank you to the employees and volunteers of the Intermountain Cassia Regional Medical Center Hospice, especially Tawny Pirtlle, for their loving care and valuable assistance with Mary these past two years.