Mary Elizabeth Hallowell passed away Nov. 2, 2011.

Elizabeth was born to Edward and Bessie Shannon Hallowell in Oklahoma City, Okla. on May 23, 1910.

After high school graduation during the Depression, she took various jobs and, eventually, a civil service position in the tiny town of Prior, Oklahoma. In 1935, when she took her sister’s dog to the veterinarian, a young new vet from Kansas State University performed the surgery.

Two years later, after a courtship conducted back and forth across the state of Oklahoma, Irvin and his “Liz” were married near midnight by the Dean of the Episcopal Cathedral in Oklahoma City. Irvin was given an assignment as a government veterinarian in Iowa with no notice, and they wanted to be wed before he left the next day. By the time the papers were signed, it was late in the evening; Elizabeth always claimed the 3rd and Irvin celebrated the 4th of June, saying it gave him an extra day’s notice.

Elizabeth joined him the next year in Maquoketa, Iowa, and they welcomed their first son, Irvin Hallowell Irwin, in 1940. Irvin entered private veterinary practice in Iowa City, where Michael Preston (1942), Jo Helen (1944), and Raymond Scott (1950) joined the family. Another daughter, Mary Elizabeth died at birth in 1948.

Elizabeth was president of the Iowa City Board of Education and active in Trinity Episcopal Church as well as many philanthropic and educational groups in Iowa City. Irvin practiced veterinary medicine there until 1959, when he changed course and returned to his early upbringing on the land. From an urban background, Elizabeth moved with him to rural Bellevue, Iowa — an area green and hilly, lush with hardwoods, streams and wildlife. He husbanded the land faithfully.

In retirement Elizabeth and Irvin were finally able to travel: they drove through much of the United States, cruised to Alaska and the Caribbean, and toured Scotland, Wales and England. They became winter Texans and finally moved to Rockport on the Texas Gulf Coast, where Elizabeth’s love of the warm southern hospitality fortunately coincided with Irvin’s love of fishing. They relocated to the Puget Sound area in 2005, but Irvin’s health failed soon after.

Elizabeth continued to live with daughter Jody and her husband Grant until the last few weeks of her life, when she moved to Saratoga View Adult Home for specialized care following a stroke.

Elizabeth’s life was marked by devotion and love for her husband and family and generous and genuine care for friends. She showed great courage in the loss of Irvin and two children, immense love and compassion for myriad family pets, and leadership in educational and community groups wherever she lived. She was a 50-year member of both PEO and the Order of Eastern Star. After Irvin’s death, she established a scholarship in his name at Kansas State University Veterinary School, emphasizing the values they shared: personal responsibility, a strong work ethic, and an abiding love of animals.

Elizabeth is survived by son Michael of South Beloit, Wisc.; daughter Jody and husband Grant Heiken of Whidbey Island; son Raymond and wife Nancy of Topeka, Kansas; grandson Jared Preston Irwin of Topeka; sisters-in-law Jean Johnson of Madison, Wisc., and Betty Irwin of Spring Green, Wisc.; as well as many nephews and nieces. She was preceded in death by son Irvin Hallowell Irwin, daughter Mary Elizabeth, and her sisters Josephine and Mary.

There will be a memorial service at 3 p.m. Nov. 22 at St. Augustine’s in-the-Woods Episcopal Church on Whidbey Island. Memorials in Elizabeth’s name may be made to Whidbey Animals’ Improvement Association (WAIF), PO Box 1108, Coupeville, WA 98239.