Federal Way community remembers ‘local celebrity’ who died in house fire

Published 11:50 am Friday, October 9, 2015

Marie Elaine Adair did what she loved to do — wave political signs in front of WinCo Foods — the morning before she tragically died in a house fire on Oct. 1.

Despite being wheelchair bound, the 73-year-old would often take an Access bus early in the morning to meet political candidates, wheeling herself with one foot to go up hills. Once there, she’d stick a sign in the side of her wheelchair and use her only working hand to wave it back and forth.

And she did that for Federal Way City Council candidate Julie Hiller hours before South King Fire and Rescue firefighters found her old two-story house, located in the 28800 block of 19th Ave. S., engulfed in flames with no way to get inside.

“I was told that I was the last person she knew that had seen her,” Hiller said, adding that she had only known Adair for a few weeks.

But Adair’s impression was lasting.

As a new candidate, Hiller said Adair inspired her.

“I was just in awe this woman would schedule the Access bus and spend time supporting people because she wanted Federal Way to be a great Federal Way,” Hiller said. “What a gift. She helped me realize why it is that I’m doing this.”

Adair’s daughter Jennifer Foster said when her mother was 45, she suffered a brain aneurysm, which led to a stroke that left her hemiplegic. But her hardship didn’t stop her from caring about community issues, such as, most recently, her perceived lack of funding for the Performing Arts and Events Center.

“She had a keen sense of right and wrong,” Foster said. “That personality … a reformer type of personality. She was in accounting and [miss-expenditures] were alarming to her more so than the average person. She was very sharp, fiscally.”

Foster said Adair believed there was insufficient demand for the events center, that it would be a hardship for taxpayers and that the money would be better spent elsewhere.

“[Adair] was actively involved with community issues and politics,” Foster said. “A hard-working contributor to Republican party efforts that she felt were truly sensible and conservative in nature.”

Adair advocated not only for Hiller, but council candidate P.K. Thumbi, Sen. Mark Miloscia, Rep. Linda Kochmar and even Federal Way Mayor Jim Ferrell, among many others.

“I’m still grappling with the loss and yet to come to terms with the reality that she’s no more,” Thumbi wrote in an email. “I had known Marie for some time up to her demise and she was one of my ardent supporters.”

Thumbi said she was a loving and caring person who really cared about the community. He wishes his condolences to her family and friends.

Miloscia said Adair was an “institution” in speaking for plain folks. She was a prolific letter writer with a strong voice.

“When I ran for Senate last year, it was good to have her working for me,” he said. “I really got to know her as a person. She would come out in all weathers and help me out in her wheelchair in the rain. Talk about a champion …”

Miloscia first heard her of her activism in the 1990s but only really got to know her last year.

“If you really want to get to know a person, chat with them for two hours in the rain,” Miloscia said, adding that Adair cared about real people versus big government, labor or power.

“She was amazing, she was so passionate,” Ferrell recalled. “The first word that comes to mind is patriot. She was passionate, patriotic and idealistic.”

Ferrell said it was fitting that she spent her last day waving signs for what she believed in — a “rough-ribbed conservative, who truly believed in limited government” and the government working within its means.

Adair campaigned for Ferell in 2002, 2003, 2010 and 2013.

“She told it like it was,” he said. “She spoke her mind, I always appreciated that about her. You never got a softened version. She was my friend and I’m going to miss her.”

Rob Barrans, chair of the 30th Legislative District Republicans, said Adair investigated both candidates before she made a decision who to support.

“She was full of life,” Barrans said, noting that she was against Proposition 1, the advisory vote seeking direction on whether or not to allow marijuana retail shops in Federal Way.

Kochmar said she was in the neighborhood when she saw the smoke from Adair’s house.

“I stood outside her house with neighbors, hoping she’d come around with her wheelchair but she didn’t,” Kochmar said.

The initial 911 call at came in at around 3:10 p.m.

“Crews pulled in and there was fire literally coming out of every window and door until we got here,” Capt. Jeff Bellinghausen said as crews were still fighting the fire. “They couldn’t go inside. The house, you can see, is covered with a lot of trees, so it was probably burning for quite awhile before anyone noticed it.”

But crews couldn’t get inside because of the dangerous conditions. Once they were able to put out a few flames, gaining entry was difficult because the house had a lot of debris inside.

“We heard right away that there might be someone inside, so we made every effort we could but we just couldn’t get inside,” Bellinghausen said. “And it had burned for quite awhile before we got there.”

Bellinghausen said they don’t see fatality fires very often and that they’re still investigating the cause of the fire.

“We’re just sad for the family and the political community,” he said. “She was a very popular lady.”

Kochmar said she’s known Adair for many years through Republican party events and happenings. And although many political candidates would offer to help her, she was adamant in her independence.

“We asked one time to get someone to clean up her yard but she wouldn’t have it, she didn’t want help,” Kochmar said. “And we have many people in Federal Way who are living alone … they’re very proud, they don’t want help but they do need help.”

Because Foster lives in California, she said her mother would often get help from her good friend Steve Jeffus.

“She really loved her house and was determined to live out her days in her home,” Foster said, adding that she’s been there since 1965.

When she wasn’t sign waving, Adair spent her time at the Federal Way Senior Center.

“She was an active member of our senior center and will be greatly missed,” said Kelley Tanner, with the senior center.

Born in Little Rock, Arkansas in 1942 to a Russian mother and Polish father, Adair moved around as a child before her family settled in the Pacific Northwest. She attended Washington State University and married in the early 1960s. Although she was a full-time accountant, who also worked another job, she was very domestic and found time to cook, sew and knit. She was raised Catholic but she identified as Christian later on.

“[She was] very fond of her animals; a home filled with animals has been her M.O. since I can remember,” Foster said.

Adair’s daughter is the only surviving immediate family member as her brother passed away on Mother’s Day at the age of 19.

“My mother, by her example, formed much of who I am today,” Foster said. “It is hard to conceive my life without her strong and loving support. I am very grateful for all she imparted to me during her time on earth. I will miss her deeply and fondly remember her for the beautiful woman she was, and I very much look forward to our reunion again on the other side of eternity.”

Adair’s family is planning on burying her at the Mt. View Cemetery in Auburn.