Lee Ilah Marple passed away peacefully with her family at her side on Saturday, July 31st, 2010 after 81 years of life on this earth. She was born in Spokane Washington on April 5th, 1929 to A.M & Lila Widman Fuhriman. Lee Ilah grew up in the small farm town of Rosalia, Washington along with three other sisters. She graduated from Rosalia High School in 1947 and from St. Luke's School of Nursing in 1950. Lee Ilah married Robert E. Marple on January 21st of 1951 and they shared nearly 60 years of marriage together, first living in Olympia while Bob was in the Army and away in Korea and then settling in the Tri-Cities in 1952. She worked for Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital and in the office of Dr. Raymond Kerr in her first career as an RN. When sons Steve and Bob were born she took time off to raise them they needed a little guidance. Lee Ilah went back to work in 1973 for Marple & Marple Inc. P.S. where she could keep an eye on things and worked there until her retirement. Bob and Lee Ilah set off early in their marriage to visit all 50 states. Simply landing at an airport in a state did not meet their definition of visiting. They made it to all but 2 or 3 of our 50 great states. There was some disagreement between them, in later years, as to which states they had remaining to visit. Lee Ilah, in earlier years, was an avid gardener and loved growing flowers, including many beautiful roses. She was proud of getting an A in a golf class she had taken at CBC and let the other golfing members of the family know about her class success. Her Christmas Eve dinners were a special treat for our families. There were many dishes and desserts to everyone's delight. She also enjoyed buying and wrapping many Christmas gifts. She was generous with others but very frugal with herself. She was jokingly kidded about her coupon clipping and bargain hunting. Lee Ilah was a member of the Kennewick First United Methodist Church for over 51 years and was also a member of the P.E.O. Chapter ED of Kennewick Washington. She loved her church and the sisterhood of her P.E.O chapter. Lee Ilah is survived by her loving husband of 59 years Robert E. Marple, son Steven J. Marple and his wife Kathy; grandchildren Eric, Brian, Nathan, Mickaela and great grandchild D'Angelo, son Robert D. Marple and his wife Sue Anne, grandchildren Justin, Brandon & wife Amy, and Katie, her sisters Beverly Harthill and husband Bill, Carmella Arp, and Rita Loncon and husband Tex, all of Spokane, and many nieces and nephews. Lee Ilah was a very caring person and touched the lives of many. You are invited to share your thoughts and memories of our beloved wife & mother online at www.muellersfuneralhomes.com. Our family would like to give a heart-felt thank you to grandsons Brian & Nathan, all of our friends, Fleur De' Lis, Kennewick First United Methodist Church, and The Tri-Cities Chaplaincy Hospice. Your love and compassion for our mother is much appreciated and will always be remembered. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memorial for our loving wife and mother to either Kennewick First United Methodist Church, 421 W. Kennewick Avenue, Kennewick Washington or The Chaplaincy, 2108 W. Entiat, Kennewick Washington, 99336. Celebration of Life Services will be held Monday, August 9, 2010, 11:00am, at Kennewick First United Methodist Church, 2 S. Dayton Street, Kennewick. Private graveside services were held at Desert Lawn Memorial Park.