Cleo Kay McHenry, born on Jan. 28, 1933, passed away on Nov. 30, 2023, living to the age of 90.
Cleo was born to Bessie Hooper in rural King County. She grew up in the Snoqualmie Valley. She first lived in the Weyerhaeuser Company Mill Town near Snoqualmie, WA, the community was the town of Snoqualmie Falls that was a sustainable community of 250 houses and businesses.
Cleo’s family eventually moved to North Bend where she graduated from Mt. Si High school in 1951. After graduation, she started working as a server at the famous Snoqualmie Falls Lodge. It was here Cleo met her future husband, Allen McHenry, who washing dishes while waiting for his military deployment orders.
Cleo and Allen married in 1953 and were married, until Allen’s passing, for 63 years.
Cleo and Allen moved to Whatcom County in 1955 for Allen’s job of working for the Department of Transportation assisting with the construction of I-5. They eventually settled on the W. Wiser Lake Road, a road Cleo lived on for 60 years. Long lasting friendships were developed with her Wiser Lake neighbors. Her final home on the Wiser Lake Road was her house in the trees. She enjoyed her daily visits from the deer who lived in the woods.
Cleo loved to garden flowers and vegetables, as well as canning and preserving fruits and vegetables. There were always jars of her efforts in the pantry.
Cleo also loved to bake fresh bread, cinnamon rolls, cookies or pies. The house would smell amazing from all her baking. Cleo had a passion for knitting, making beautiful sweaters and socks. If Cleo was not in the kitchen, she could be found taking walks or bike riding with her neighbors.
However, Cleo’s greatest love was teaching Sunday School. She enjoyed working with the little ones, ages 3-5, teaching for over 50 years. Cleo also found great rewards working at The Christian Health Care Center as a nurse’s aide. Assisting the residents, helping them with their care was something Cleo enjoyed.
Survived by her son, Kent McHenry and daughter, Laurie Comley, seven grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren. Preceding her in death are husband, Allen McHenry and son, Blair McHenry.
Celebration of life will be held Jan. 26, 2024, at Lynden Community Church at 3 p.m. Reception following. Interment will be at Fall City Cemetery at a later date.
Arrangements made by Gillies Funeral Home. Thank you to the Silverado staff and her hospice team.
