Mary Louise “Lou” Babst
Lou Babst 94, passed away December 26, 2016. Born October 21, 1922 in Mount Vernon, Washington, the daughter of Hazen F. and Mary Lucille ( O’ Connor) Willett. She attended school in Concrete, Washington until moving to Rock Island her Junior year in High School when her father was transferred to Rock Island Dam with Puget Sound Power and Light. She graduated from Wenatchee High School in 1939 and continued her education at the newly established Wenatchee Junior College. She was employed by Seattle First National Bank. On January 11, 1944 she married James T. Babst Sr.
She was active in a number of community projects. In 1947 she began working on floats for the Apple Blossom Festival. She designed and help build 25 floats for communities, including Bellevue and Leavenworth. In 1956, as a member of St. Bernadette’s guild, she wrote, edited and secured advertising and printed the first year of St. Joseph’s parish bulletin. In 1960, she served as Alter Society President and was instrumental in securing a new nativity display for St. Joseph’s church. In 1959 she became the parish correspondent for the Diocesan publication Our Times.
In January of 1961 she returned to secretarial work with the law firm of Whitmore, Graham and Whitmore. She went from that office to Deputy City Clerk for the City Of Wenatchee for four years. In September of 1967 she was employed by the Chelan County Planning Department retiring in 1985.
During her years of employment, she was also active in the St. Anthony’s Hospital community campaign, doing the accounting for three years. She did the costuming for five Wenatchee Music Theater productions, South Pacific, Oklahoma, My Fair Lady, A funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, and Harvey. She was also a member of the Board of Directors for the Wenatchee Youth Circus for eight years and assisted in writing the circus history. She loved sewing and quilting for her children and grandchildren.
Lou was preceded in death by her husband Jim, her parents, her brother Francis, her daughter Patty, son Don and three infant sons, and two great grandsons. She is survived by her sisters Virginia Day of Wenatchee and Eileen Jette, of Newberg, Oregon, her sons James (Tommye), Bob (Linda) and Mike (Melody) and daughters Jeanne Steiner, Margaret Eley (Joe) and Daughter-in-law Julie Babst. Twelve grandchildren and nineteen great grandchildren.
A memorial mass will be held at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church on Friday, January 20, 2017 at 1:30 p.m. A private inurnment will follow at the Wenatchee City Cemetery. Arrangements are by Telford’s Chapel of the Valley, East Wenatchee.

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