Lasting Memories

Mary Elizabeth Yost
1922-Jan. 31, 2010
Menlo Park, California

Mary Elizabeth Yost, 88, a longtime Menlo Park resident, died Jan. 31, 2010.

She was born in San Jose and moved to Menlo Park at age 8. She attended Ravenswood and St. Joseph's elementary schools and Sequoia High School. She graduated from San Jose State in 1943 with a bachelor's degree in art. During World War II she worked as a draftsman with Hendy Iron Works in Sunnyvale, which built the engines for America's Liberty Ships. She later worked at the National Motor Bearing Co. in Redwood City.

In 1945 she met Albert Yost, a local civil engineer, and they were married in 1946 at the Church of the Nativity in Menlo Park. The couple were well-known ballroom dancers on the Peninsula and led their own dance club; the Jeff Jeffries Dancers. Twice they sailed around South America as dance instructors on the Prudential Cruise Line. She was also active with the Menertons, a women's civic organization that promoted charitable projects. She volunteered at the Menerton thrift shop, helped plan fundraisers and did artwork for the group's popular cookbook.

She is survived by sons Walter Yost of Carmichael, Calif., and Doug Yost of Palo Alto.