Mary Beth 'Bobby' Hite, 100

Mary Beth “Bobby” Hite passed away June 9, 2024, in California, where she had resided in recent years. She celebrated her 100th birthday April 1 this year. Bobby was born in Sandpoint, Idaho, to Hedwidge Dupuis McCartney and William B. McCartney. She graduated from Coeur d’Alene High School in 1940, one month after her 16th birthday. She then attended WSU, but the Depression made it difficult to continue.  

She married R. Everett Hite (1922-1992) in 1943, and they had two children, Gary E. Hite (1945-2013) and Pamela Hite, MD, who resides in Irvine, Calif.  

She worked as a legal assistant to Mr. Potts, Esq. in Coeur d’Alene, then rated insurance for R.E. “Eddie” Page in Spokane. After having children, she became office Manager for Hite Crane & Rigging in 1969, when it was founded, until her retirement.  

Bobby was tiny but mighty and loved to dance. She was a voracious reader, even after becoming a "centenarian," and a big fan of her Kindle after we were not able to keep her supplied with books. She took great pride in her ability to contribute and believed in the value of hard work. While in California, she cherished the memories of warm and busy gatherings with family and friends every holiday at the lake. She felt that “100” was just too old and preferred to be 99, having outlived a generation of friends and family. Bobby and Everett were active in the philanthropies of the El Katif Shrine, both the Crippled Children’s Hospital and the Burns Units, throughout their lives.

Bobby is survived by her daughter, Pamela; two loving second cousins, Joan (Rohner) Aris in Shoreline, Wash. and Marci (Rohner) Buskala in Oak Harbor, Wash. from the Dupuis family; seven lovely grandnieces who live in Spokane and Seattle from the McCartney/Tschetter family; and her loyal cat, Macky ("a McCartney"), who remains in California.  

The Graveside Service will be held Friday, June 28, 2024, at 2 p.m. at Forest Cemetery, 1011 N. Government Way, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. Visitation will be available in the Chapel at Yates Funeral Home in Coeur d’Alene from noon to 1:30 p.m. 

Memorials, if desired, may be sent to Shriner’s Crippled Children’s Hospital in Spokane.