鈥淢ary was just, well, Mary.鈥�

That鈥檚 how Christine Allison most easily describes her youngest daughter 鈥� with a note of pride and wonder in her voice 鈥� after she was killed Friday, Aug. 5 in a single vehicle car accident on Highway 3 near Bromley Rock.

Mary Allison was 19.

鈥淪he was loved by all. She just had that about her.鈥�

Mary was the youngest of four children, who grew up in Hedley, B.C.

鈥淪he was so kind and kind-hearted,鈥� said Christine. 鈥淪he had such a big heart and she just trusted everybody. She always found the good in people and she helped out wherever she could. If her friends needed food she wouldn鈥檛 hesitate to come home and grab food out of the fridge and freezer and go give it to them. She was so amazing for her little, young years.鈥�

She never passed a person on the street with a sign asking for help, without giving what she had. And often she would sit and offer companionship to someone in need.

鈥淪he would give her last five bucks if anybody ever need it. She always made friends wherever she went and she never looked down on anybody.鈥�

Mary attended school in Keremeos, but did not enjoy the classroom, said Christine.

She liked drawing and painting, and loved animals.

鈥淪he鈥檇 be bringing home stray kittens from everywhere.鈥�

Christine acknowledged her daughter struggled at times, and with a small laugh agreed to call her 鈥渁 difficult teenager.鈥�

However Mary was growing, and just in the last week was talking to her mom about getting a job, and asking what kind of profession might suit her.

鈥淚 think there was a bit of a turning point.鈥�

When Christine went to bed Thursday, Aug. 4, Mary was in her bedroom, watching a movie.

鈥淪he was in such good spirits, and just happy, and it never even crossed my mind that she was going to leave.鈥�

That鈥檚 why when police knocked on her door early the next morning Christine simply didn鈥檛 believe what they were telling her.

鈥淚 said 鈥楴o, Mary is in her room. And of course, I went running down to her room.鈥� 鈥�

Christine stressed her thanks to the RCMP for their kindness towards Mary and her family.

It is still hard for her to believe.

鈥淚t鈥檚 surreal, and it鈥檚 not real, and I don鈥檛 think it will really kick in until I am able to see her鈥� Right now it doesn鈥檛 feel like she鈥檚 gone. I鈥檓 waiting for a text message from her that says 鈥楬ey Mom鈥︹�� 鈥�

Mary and her large extended family are members of the Upper Similkameen Indian Band.

On Friday a fire was lit at the Allison鈥檚 home.

鈥淎s soon as we find out someone has passed we start a fire and that fire is supposed to go for many days鈥� It helps them, and it guides them,鈥� explained Christine.

Do you have something to add to this story, or something else we should report on? Email:andrea.demeer@similkameenspotlight.com