Madeline M. Lemere, 84, Devoted Her Life To Serving The Community

Madeline M. Lemere was a college graduate, no small feat considering she grew up in an era when few women pursued careers.

Her name, over the years, was linked to various Seattle agencies and organizations. She even helped develop policy issues for local politicians.

It was the simple satisfaction of serving others that made Mrs. Lemere tick.

She served her community. She served nature. There was nothing else she felt was more important. So she gave something back, no matter how minuscule, to the world she lived in, said her husband, Dr. Frederick Lemere.

"It was everything to Madeline," he said. "She wanted to be of service and be useful to the community. She wanted to have meaning in her life. And serving, she believed, was her contribution to society.

"She thought that we had an obligation to society to do what we could to help the community."

Mrs. Lemere, 84, who died Saturday after a brief bout with cancer, was born Oct. 25, 1907, in Omaha, Neb., to a pioneer family from Weeping Water, Neb. Omaha was a small town back then, but one filled with adventure and a spirit of caring.

And Mrs. Lemere's family was no different.

During World War II, Mrs. Lemere served as a Red Cross worker with Army hospitals in India, Burma and Assam. After the war, she was co-chairwoman of the Forward Thrust campaign here and worked on Dan Evans' campaigns for governor and Gordon Clinton's mayoral campaigns.

She was president of the Seattle Park Board and a member of the Washington State Interagency Committee for Outdoor Recreation. She was a King County Freeholder and active with the Municipal League and the League of Women Voters. She was the Municipal League's Citizen of the Year.

"Madeline was raised to serve that way by her family," her husband said.

Frederick Lemere should know. After all, he, too, was raised in Omaha; and he first laid eyes on his future bride when the two entered grade school together.

Love may not have torn at him then. But an appreciation for her intellect and sincerity did.

Mrs. Lemere was the kind of girl who grew on you, he said, like a good teacher or a kind friend.

By the time they entered high school, Frederick was sure of one thing: He cared deeply for Madeline.

"She was intelligent and sincere about things. She got top grades in school and was interested in nature," Dr. Lemere said. "We were interested in the same things."

While her husband went on to become a doctor of psychiatry, Mrs. Lemere started her lifelong commitment in the area of service.

Former Seattle Mayor Clinton recalls her civic service.

"As mayor, I appointed her to the Seattle Park Board," said Clinton, who was mayor from 1956 to 1964. "She was a very competent person. Her demonstrated interest in public issues made her an ideal candidate.

"She had great vitality and was just a wonderful person."

Besides her husband, Mrs. Lemere is survived by her son, Cordell; a brother, Beach Miller of Arlington, Va.; a cousin, Patricia Douglas of Santa Barbara, Calif., and her beloved pet Cairn terrier, Bonnie.

No service was planned, at her request. Remembrances may be made to the American Red Cross or the Seattle Public Library.