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Obituary for Mary Ellen Walsh
Dr. Mary Ellen Walsh died of lung cancer in Pocatello, Idaho. Mary Ellen was born in Tyler, Texas, daughter of Tommie McKay and Alma Olive McKay. Mary Ellen came to Pocatello in 1969 after having earned her Ph.D. at the University of Arizona. Mary Ellen is remembered by Idaho State University faculty and staff for her thirty-three years of service at ISU in the Department of English and Philosophy, the College of Arts and Sciences, and the Provost's office. She moved through the ranks to Professor, served as Associate Dean for the College from 1970 to 1980, and was Acting Vice President for Academic Affairs during 1980-81. During 1987-89 she won a Fulbright Scholarship to teach English literature at the National University of Rwanda, where she made many international friends. Mary Ellen brought to the department her enthusiasm for teaching literature that pushed canonical boundaries. She was devoted to the idea that professorship includes research as well as teaching, producing publications focused on Western women writers, including her book in the Twayne Series “Jean Stafford”, but most notably her article (written as Mary Ellen Williams Walsh) "Angle of Repose and the Writings of Mary Hallock Foote: A Source Study." (Twentieth-Century Literary Criticism, 2001). Mary Ellen retired in 2002 with emeritus status, living in Pocatello. She is survived by her son George Bruce Williams (Susan Valdez), her daughter Karen Brenchley (Chaz), her sister Claudia McKay Zorn (Joe), numerous nieces and nephews, and grandchildren Anita Bwiza, Michael M Jeni, and Malcolm-Aime Musoni. There will be a memorial on Thursday 12/6, 6 to 8 p.m. at Downard Funeral Home, 241 N Garfield Ave.
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