Obituary: Gokee, Mary Ann

GOKEE,
Mary Ann


Mary Ann Gokee passed away peacefully on March 15, 2016 in Tucson, Arizona.

Mary Ann was born April 8, 1946 in Gooding, Idaho.

She was raised in Spokane and attended Hutton Grade School, Lewis and Clark High School and University of Washington.

Mary Ann was smart and extremely witty.

She had a great sense of humor and a beautiful smile.

Mary Ann lived in numerous places throughout her life, but some of her fondest memories were from the years she lived in Galesburg, Illinois.

During her time there, she graduated magna cum laude from Carl Sandberg College, both worked and worshipped at Grace Episcopal Church and met some of her lifelong dearest friends.

In her free time, Mary Ann was a true nature-lover, she made dolls out of flowers and had trees as friends.

So many wonderful memories were created with her family at both Priest Lake and in Laclede, ID.

She was an artist at heart whether painting, sewing, drying flowers, writing poetry or welding she found true joy in creating.

She loved to travel and meet new people.

She was truly one a kind; colorful, eccentric, and compassionate.

Throughout her life, she made many dear friends in the communities where she loved.

As a woman of faith, and a loyal democrat, she was always an advocate for the less fortunate.

She loved to entertain.

Always ‘dressed to the nines’, Mary Ann was the life of every party, certainly no outfit was complete without a hat.

She loved hats (and parties!)

so much that it wasn’t uncommon for everyone in her presence to be given a hat to wear from her collection…just for fun.

Mary Ann is survived by her daughters Leigha Bone and Cassandra Cowan, her partner and friend Billy Beach, his daughter Christy Beach, her sister-in-law Mina Gokee and her three nieces, Renee Zaring, Shelley Morgan and Chrissy Schmidt.

She is preceded in death by her parents Flayvel and Dorothy Gokee, her brother, Henry F. Gokee and her son, Jeffrey Bone.

Mary Ann’s memorial will be held on a sunny day this summer where her close friends and family will spread her ashes into the river, out in nature, where her spirit will always live…basking in the sun’s glow.

A bowl of butterfly wings,
Love of children, some present, some gone,
A love of music, sunshine and good friends
Dreams of good prevail,
Some came true
Some just remain hopes to be fulfilled
-B.

Beach