Mary Elizabeth (Labusky) Lutz

Mary Elizabeth (Labusky) Lutz, 91, passed away on Friday, March 1, 2024 at the Overlake Hospital in Bellevue, Washington.

Mary was born on October 10,1932 to Stephen and Elizabeth Labusky in Cle Elum. She graduated high school in 1950 and went on to work as a projectionist at the Vogue Theater and then, in 1951, as a secretary at Miller’s sawmill in Cle Elum. She moved to Seattle, working at Boeing as a secretary for four years while taking classes through the University of Washington to become a medical secretary and doctor’s assistant. She eventually worked for a lung specialist and loved the medical field.

In 1958, Mary went to Alaska to visit a friend and liked it so much that she moved there for a year. She worked at the Fairbanks clinic and also as a secretary for a Colonel at the Air Force base.

Mary later moved back to Seattle and worked for a heart specialist, and it was there that she met her future husband, Ken Lutz, who was visiting Seattle from Alberta, Canada.  They corresponded for a year and eventually married in Canada in 1961 where they farmed, raising cattle, pigs, grain and hay.  Mary also raised exotic chickens and miscellaneous fowl.  She was an excellent cook, baker and gardener, everybody loved her lemon pie and homemade bread. She enjoyed laughing with her friends and had a witty sense of humor.

Mary moved back to the family home in Cle Elum in the 90’s where she was as a meal site manager and did social work for People for People.  She spent most of her remaining years up on her hilltop overlooking Cle Elum or visiting her family in Canada.  She also enjoyed being a reader at St John the Baptist Catholic Church.

Mary is survived by her daughter Heidi Lutz, of Newcastle, whom she lived with in her later years; daughter Rebecca Lutz and son Kevin (Kristine) Lutz of Stony Plain, Alberta; five grandchildren and one great granddaughter, whom she loved dearly; and many nieces and nephews.  She was preceded in death by her parents and her brothers Rodney, Jack and Gary Labusky.

Her Memorial Mass will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, August 9 at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Cle Elum with a reception to follow at the Cle Elum Eagles.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Johnston & Williams of Cle Elum. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.johnston-williams.com