It is with great sadness that the family of Margaret Mary Lyons Coan announces her passing after a brief illness on Saturday, August 4, 2018 at the age of 94.

Mary will be lovingly remembered by her 9 children Mary Jo Schmidt, Peggy (Ray) Roy, Cathy (Ron) Seifert, Tom (Linda) Coan, Bill (Jenny) Coan, Anne (Rick) Lichtenstadter, Dan Coan (Teri Snyder), Eileen Coan (Ross McConahey), Mike (Hannah) Coan, and her wonderful and fun 16 grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren.

A native of Walla Walla, Washington, Mary was the eighth of 12 siblings born to Joseph W. and Mary Denzel Lyons, wheat farmers in Walla Walla, Washington. She was very proud of her roots and farming background.

Mary graduated from Seattle University in 1946 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry. She was married September 14, 1946. She raised a loving family of nine children. The daughter of a teacher and advocate for education, Mary impressed upon her children and grandchildren the importance of a college degree. When her children grew up she resumed her career as a chemist. Mary soon left the lab to use her skills as a social worker for 25 years.

Mary lived a long and blessed life spanning 9 decades, always putting family first. She had a fulfilling retirement watching her grandchildren and great grandchildren and playing or organizing Bridge games several days a week.

She was an active member of Holy Family Catholic Church’s many ministries where she developed friendships rich in blessings and everlasting spiritual bonds.

She will always be remembered for her abiding faith in God, strong will, good sense of humor, great capacity for friends of all ages and her willingness to always say yes to adventures and family activities.

A celebration of Mary’s life will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, August 16, 2018 at Holy Family Catholic Church in Kirkland, WA.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Mary’s name to the Holy Family School Scholarship Fund.