Louise Pullen Fye

Louise Pullen Fye of Moscow died Monday, Aug. 5, 2013, at Good Samaritan Moscow Village. She was 92.

Louise was born July 24, 1921, in Wirt, Carter County, Okla., to Horace and Zelma Pullen. She attended grade school in Rexroat, Okla., and high school in Fox, Okla. After high school graduation, she was off to college (with one suitcase) to attend Eastern Illinois State University in Charleston, Ill., where she received her teaching certification. After teaching for one year, she decided to make the move to help the war effort. She "made her daddy proud" when she enlisted in the U.S. Army in December 1942. She served first in the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps (WAACs) and then in the Women's Army Corps (WACs) from May 1943 to December 1945. Louise was stationed in Fort Devens, Mass., Fort Oglethorpe, Ga., and Fort McClellan, Ala., performing a variety of duties from secretarial to booking entertainment for the USO. While in Fort McClellan, she met the love of her life, Merle Stanley Fye, who was also enlisted in the U.S. Army.

Louise was extremely proud of her military service and was thrilled to participate in the opening ceremonies of the Women's Military Memorial in Washington, D.C., in October 1997. Louise received a medal in honor of her charter membership to the Women in Military Service Association. She recently donated her uniform to the Fox High School World War II Museum.

Merle and Louise married in May 1946, and after being discharged they headed to Bellflower, Calif. In 1954 they relocated to Coeur d'Alene, then Deary and made Moscow their final home since 1960. Merle passed away in December 1985.

Louise retired from Washington State University in 1985, where she worked for the Retirement and Benefits Office.

Louise stayed very active in retirement, enjoying camping in her motorhome, traveling, quilting and gardening. Her sense of adventure has taken her to every state in the United States, with the exception of Alaska and Florida. She loved to read and enjoyed shopping for antiques, with a particular interest in toothpick holders.

Louise was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star (Potlatch Chapter), Amaranth, Women of the Moose (Moscow Chapter), Eagles Auxiliary (Moscow Chapter), American Quilters Society, Idaho Road Runners and Palouse Rolling Hills Good Sam Chapter. She also spent many years volunteering for the AARP Senior Tax Assistance, and manned the phones in Moscow's 1912 Building - keeping the ghosts company.

Survivors include her brother, Andrew Pullen of Montrose, Ill.; and her five children, Stanley (Lana) Fye of Ocean Shores, Wash., Anne (Mark) Peterson of Rigby, Idaho, Myrle (Gary) Cummings of Moscow, Roy (Sue) Fye of Moscow and Dale (April) Fye of Shelton, Wash. She is also survived by 13 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren, along with numerous nieces, nephews and other extended family. Louise was preceded in death by her brother, Bill Pullen from Albuquerque, N.M., and her sister, Winnah Riggs from El Paso, Texas.

The family suggests donations to the Moscow Food Bank in lieu of flowers.

Viewing will be held from noon to 8 p.m. Thursday at Short's Funeral Chapel in Moscow. A private burial will take place at Moscow Cemetery. A celebration of life will be held at 11:30 a.m. Friday in the Palouse Room at the University Inn-Best Western.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Short's Funeral Chapel of Moscow and online condolences may be sent to www.shortsfuneralchapel.com.