Mary Louise Conrad Wakeland, 1933 – 2013
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Mary Louise Conrad Wakeland, 1933 – 2013
Mary Louise Conrad Wakeland, 1933 – 2013
Mary Lou Conrad Wakeland departed from this earthly life on March 4, just a week before her 80th birthday at her home in Golden Hills. She and her husband Lewis had lived in Tehachapi since 1968.
Mary Lou was born in Montebello on March 11, 1933, and grew up in the San Gabriel area. She attended Alhambra High School and was a graduate of the University of the Pacific.
Mary Lou served a year as a religious counselor under a Danforth Fellowship at Western Michigan University. While she was in her second year at the Chicago Theological Seminary, she married Lewis Wakeland who had just graduated from the seminary. Together they ministered to the Washburn Congregation at Half Day, Ill. While they were at the Half Day Church, their three children, Lewis Jr., Cynthia and Drew were born. In 1962, Mary Lou and her family moved to Long Beach and in 1968 they came to Tehachapi.
In Tehachapi, Mary Lou was a busy mom and minister’s wife for about 10 years before she began working outside the home. She helped start the bakery at Town and Country Market. She was the first cook for the senior nutrition program in Tehachapi. Mary made it a condition of her working with the meals program that they have delivery, so locally “Meals” became “Meals on Wheels."
Mary also worked as a chef at Bear Valley and Stallion Springs lodges while baking many, many beautiful wedding cakes.
When Mary could no longer work outside the home, she opened her heart and her home to day-care children. She was grandma to her “kids” and they were as spoiled as any grandchild should be.
For the last seven years, Mary was at home and limited in her activities due to health issues. She was greeted at Heaven’s door by her parents; her granddaughter, Amethyst Marie; and her son-in-law, Patrick Lawler.
She leaves behind her husband, Lewis and their children, Lewis Jr. and his wife, Debie, Cynthia, and Drew and his wife, Sharon; as well as eight grandchildren and four great-granddaughters.
A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. on March 9 at the Tehachapi Valley United Methodist Church, 20400 Backes Ln., Tehachapi, with Pastor Ofahengaue officiating. Wood Family Funeral Service, Inc. is handling the services. For condolences please visit www.woodmortuary.net.
