Mildred Margaret Pomeroy Deen, BHS 1948

Mildred Margaret (Pomeroy) Deen was born April 29, 1931, in Burbank, CA. She was the third daughter of four children born to native Californians Charles Husted Pomeroy Jr. and Flora May (Fox) Pomeroy.

Mildred graduated from Burbank High School in 1948. She attended Glendale Community College and UCLA.

Mildred met the one true love of her life, Thomas Jerry Deen, USMC, on Easter Sunday 1948. Jerry began writing letters to Mildred at least once a day while they were apart. They got to know each other and fell in love through the letters. They were secretly married in Tijuana, Mexico, on August 8, 1950, just before Jerry left to serve his country in Korea. During their separation, Mildred and Jerry continued corresponding daily, leaving a legacy of love letters that comforted Mildred till the end of her life.

Upon Jerry's return from Korea, they enjoyed an official church wedding on July 13, 1951 in Burbank, CA, then traveled to begin their life together when Jerry began work at Hanford on December 26, 1951. To their union three children were born, Thomas, David and Carolyn.

Mildred was a devoted mother who nurtured and supported each of her children's passions. She was a wonderful cook, an accomplished seamstress, and loved tending and arranging flowers. In 1969, Mildred completed her degree at Walla Walla College, majoring in education. For over 20 years she was a Resource Room and fifth grade teacher at Kiona-Benton Elementary School. She was a no-nonsense teacher who had high academic expectations for her students.

Mildred was devastated by Jerry's early death on November 1, 1988. Following her loss, she retired from teaching, traveled, and volunteered at Kadlec Medical Center Auxiliary and participated in the Benton/Franklin School Retirees Association.

She leaves her younger brother Charles H. Pomeroy III of Burbank, CA; and her three children, Tom Deen & Kristen Myers and grandsons James and Rory of Seattle, WA, and Donald McClusky; David & Julie Deen and granddaughters Kayla, Megan and Hayley of Richland; former daughter-in-law, Tanya Longaker of Kennewick and grandchildren Arthur & Sarah Deen; and great-grandchildren Ezri, Xavier, Tanis, Zarik & Ryker of Rexburg, ID; grandchildren Adam & Kym Deen and great-grandson Ryder of Richland; former granddaughter-in-law Adrienne Deen and great-grandson Vincent of Richland; granddaughter Aleasha Shaw; and Carolyn & Richard Fazzari and grandchildren Eric of Richland and Marisa of Grand Rapids, MI.

Mildred was diagnosed with metastasized small cell carcinoma in July 2011 and chose not to seek treatment, but die as she lived with strength and independence. She was cared for at home by her children with support from Hospice at The Chaplaincy. She died at home on December 4, 2011. At Mildred's request, there will be no services.

Published in Tri-City Herald from December 7 to December 8, 2011