Meredith McClendon, born April 26, 1946 in Spokane WA died November 30, 2011 from a 24 year battle of breast cancer. She fought the cancer long enough to see her two young children grow into successful adults, know two beautiful young granddaughters, and just three weeks ago was able to dance with Anna at her wedding.
Meredith was born to John Boyle and Arline Cambell in Spokane WA as the oldest of four children, including Michael Boyle, Jane Boyle, and David Boyle. She grew up in Spokane, and graduated from Lewis and Clark High School. Her childhood adventures often centered around Manito Park, a place for reading, ice skating, and sledding. Meredith attended Washington State University where she earned degree in Education. She joined the Pi Beta Phi sorority, like her mother and grandmother before her. Meredith met her husband, Robert McClendon at WSU at the fraternity across the street. She graduated, got married, and moved to Seattle to start her adult life. In her early years of marriage, Meredith spent time living on the East Coast, Seattle, and Hawaii. Meredith is survived by her two children, Anna and Ian McClendon, their partners, Brian Gfeller and Anney McClendon, two grandchildren, Rylan and Tyler McClendon, and her partner, Jerry Bopp.
Meredith spent her professional life as a middle school English teacher. She started teaching in Pullman WA, taught for some time on the East coast, and the majority of her life in Seattle WA. In Seattle, she taught for most of her career at the Highline School District, but also taught at St Joseph’s and Christ the King. Meredith’s passion was reading literature and poetry, and she passed that on to her students as an English teacher. She spent the last five years of her career as a mentor to new teachers, passing along her insights and rich knowledge of learning and students.
The support of her family and friends led Meredith on. Ultimately, her body was too sick and tired to continue. She had fought her illness long enough, raised two children, taught countless others, and loved/ was loved by a wonderful man, Jerry Bopp. She passed on to allow her spirit to carry on as she had previously in her life.
A memorial service is planned to celebrate Meredith’s life at St. Joseph’s Social Hall in Seattle, WA on Friday December 9th at 5pm with a potluck to follow. All friends and family are welcome to join the celebration. In lieu of flowers, donations wll be accepted in Meredith’s honor at Highline Schools Foundation for the library, 15675 Ambaum Blvd SW, Burien WA 98166.