Mary Lou (Calkins) Welker Dragich

Mary Lou Calkins Welker Dragich passed away peacefully July 1, 2017, at the Gardens of Rigby Assisted Living Center. She was 89 years old.

Mary was born July 8, 1927, in Soda Springs, Idaho, at the home of her grandfather to William Orson Calkins and Mabel Lucy Horsley Calkins. She had four brothers and one sister. Her father worked for the Union Pacific Railroad and the family’s early years were spent in railroad towns in Wyoming and Idaho. She attended the Mora Elementary School near Owyhee, Idaho. The family moved to Meridian, Idaho in 1939, where she attended Middle School and graduated from Meridian High School in 1945. She worked at CC Anderson’s to save enough money to attend Brigham Young University for two semesters.

She met Sherman Russell Welker, a World War 2 Navy Veteran. They were married November 26, 1946, in the Idaho Falls LDS Temple. Together they had four sons and two daughters. They settled in Prineville, Oregon, where Sherman eventually owned his own pharmacy business. She worked part time at the pharmacy doing the bookkeeping.

In 1988, her beloved husband, Sherman, became ill with Parkinson’s Disease. He passed away on February 24, 1999. They had been married for 52 years.

In 1999, she married Hugh Michael Dragich, in Prineville, Oregon. In 2004, Mary was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. Hugh provided for Mary’s needs until his death on April 28, 2013. Mary was moved to Idaho Falls, Idaho, to be cared for by her daughter, Karen.

Mary was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She served as a Relief Society President, Young Women’s President, Relief Society instructor and primary teacher. Mary opened the first Consignment Boutique in Prineville, Oregon. She had a knack for business and pleasing her customers.

Mary’s interests were reading, flower gardening, and traveling. But her greatest joy in life was being a mother and grandmother. She devoted much of her time serving others as a caregiver.

She was a special woman with a warm and outgoing personality and loved by all. She is survived by her four sons and two daughters: David Welker, Steve (Sherry) Welker, Karen (Kenny) Anderson Ron (Melanie) Welker, Jerry (Karlene) Welker Lisa (Dave) Mayo Her brother, Richard Calkins 23 grandchildren 47 great grand children

She was preceded in death by her husbands, parents, three brothers: Ellis, Loren and Duane, and one sister, Aura Mae.

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