Mary Elizabeth McManus
February 24, 1953 - July 6, 2024
Obituary
Mary Elizabeth McManus of Federal Way, WA. Passed away peacefully at home surrounded by her family on Saturday July 6, 2024. Mary was born in Seattle at Swedish Hospital, on a Tuesday night February 24, 1953. The daughter of Robert and Helen (Walls) Ramsey, she was the fourth oldest of six children.
Mary grew up in the Rainier Beach area of Seattle and attended St. Paul’s Catholic school, Rainier Beach High School and Griffin Murphy Business College. Mary had a fun filled life as a young girl with her active family. When they moved into the new house that her dad had built in the mid 1950’s, Mary was the baby in the family but still wasn’t walking because her two older sisters Helen and Patricia treated her like a baby and carried her everywhere! They were forbidden to carry her after that.
As she grew and the family began to expand, the kids looked for ways to earn an allowance to help support the family. Her older brother John and younger brother Tom both had early morning paper routes. When one of them were sick or otherwise unable to deliver, their backup was little 12 year old Mary who would step up carry and deliver newspapers for them at 4:00 AM. Always cold, often rainy. Mary, barely 5ft as an adult was quite a sight carrying a canvas bag full of newspapers. Mary was small in stature but large in life and she loved her brothers.
Mary loved her family camp outs in the Pacific Beach area on the Washington Coast. The memory of the entire family which had now expanded to six with the addition of little sister Sue, sitting in the back of a panel van on a board supported by blocks was the starting point of many a story. The family later built a cabin in Grayland, Washington and spent many years enjoying the area with friends and family.
After Mary graduated from High school and attended Business College, she took a job with Seattle Mortgage in the escrow department. It was while working there that Mary’s friend Mim introduced her to the love of her life Mike, at a 1974 Fourth of July Party in Kent, WA. Mike always referred to her as his little firecracker. He’d never met anyone quite like her.
Mary and Mike were inseparable and they were married January 8, 1977 at St Philomena’s Church in Des Moines, WA. Mary was a member of St. Philomena’s Parish for 38 years before recently moving to St Vincent de Paul’s Parish in Federal Way.
Mary continued to work for Seattle Mortgage and became the head of the escrow department before she left. Mike went to work for UPS and they started the family they had talked about.
Mary’s first son Matthew was born in December of 1980, followed by Patrick In April of 1983 and daughter Molly in July of 1985. The finest group of millennials that her eyes ever beheld. Mary did the lion’s share of raising the kids as they grew up.
Mary was always a go getter, she was brash, clever, and resourceful, was never afraid to say what she thought or felt. As her kids grew, she volunteered and became involved in their education. Many was the day that she sat around and reminisced with the kids about the lengths she went to help them. They are all a testament to her efforts as they grew to be successful and had families of their own.
Mary was a stay at home housewife for a number of years before venturing back into the workplace as the kids grew up. She worked for American Mortgage, Excellular, Doug Fox parking, and Multi Care as an OB receptionist. Mary usually had a thick full head of hair, she liked to call it big hair so she could keep many secrets, and she really did!
Mary enjoyed the family and friends camping trips at Salmon La Sac in the Cle Elum area and the Ocean house that the family bought in Grayland, Washington. The houseboat trips on Shuswap Lake in Canada and Roosevelt Lake in Eastern Washington were some of her finest recollections. Enough memories and good times to last for eternity. She also enjoyed golfing, planting flowers, care giving, adventures with the grandkids and anything to do with gatherings of family and friends. Oh! And of course the SLOTS at the Emerald Queen, she had a rotating list of partners that she enjoyed many hours with of her favorite “hobby”.
Mary was a kind and loving wife to Mike for 47 years and the most incredible mother and grandmother. The number of lives she has touched and changed is immeasurable. Mary My Forever Love will always be in our hearts.
Mary used to say “if money can fix a problem it’s not really a problem”. Problems are when no amount of money will fix the problem. Mary was diagnosed with CLL a form of blood cancer in 1996, for the next 21 years she battled and fought and scratched and the chemo treatments kept the disease at bay. In December of 2017 she participated in a clinical trial for Car-T cell therapy. Several months later she was declared cancer free, no more blood cancer. In the fall of 2021 they found a spot on her lung (lung cancer), another problem to face, but this time it was a problem that couldn’t be fixed.
Mary was preceded in death by her parents and Sister Susan. She is survived by her husband of 47 years, Michael. Three children, Matthew (Ashley), Patrick (Phuong), Molly (Joshua), three grandchildren, Josie, Kinsley and Jameson. Sisters Helen (Garry) and Patricia, brothers John (Patti), Tom (Patty).
The family wishes to thank the oncology department nurses and staff at Virginia Mason Federal Way for their many years of compassionate care, as well as CHI Franciscan home and health and hospice care for their efforts in Mary’s final days.
A Funeral Mass will be held at St Vincent de Paul Parish in Federal Way, WA. On Monday July 22nd @ 11:00 am, reception after mass with committal to follow at Gethsemane Catholic Cemetery also in Federal Way.
Mary was my Best Friend as well as my sister. We would have phone conversations nearly every day. She always made me laugh! I lovedherlikeeno other.
What a true gem Mary was to have lived in this world among us. She was such a positive person and really spread joy. We will miss her.
Beautiful tribute to a wonderful woman who will be greatly missed. She taught us all how to keep going no matter how hard it was.
Little Miss Mary, you are sooo missed, there isn’t a person that can compare to you. Small in stature with a huge personality. You have gone through so much in your lifetime, now you can rest although I can’t imagine you ever resting. We’ll all see you down the road if we behave ourselves. Love you little one.
What beautiful pictures of Mary and the family, we ( Betty in spirit ) will never forget her smile and laughter, she just lit up the room when we seen her and somehow seemed to manage to nudge me into mischief, Anthonys Home Port Restaurant in Des Monies WA.
the unholy salmon, but that’s another story. She will always be in our hearts, and I’m pretty sure she may have found Betty at the Casino in Heaven, where everybody is a winner.
RIP Mary and my God Bless You….Love to the McManus family
We moved in next door to Mike and Mary nearly 4 years ago. Mary was very welcoming to us. She was always friendly, with a positive and cheerful attitude, even in the midst of all she was going through with her health. She was definitely a fun and spunky gal. 😀 I loved her wit, and thoroughly enjoyed getting to know her the last few years. She will be dearly missed. ❤️
Dear sweet mama. Or as I always called you by your first name Mary. You are already so missed here. We all wish we could have had more time with you but that wasn’t gods plan. At least you have lots of company up there to keep you occupied. I’m sure Cleo and Rudy were especially happy to see you. Tell all my grandparents , aunts uncles and everyone else who left us too soon I said hello. I will miss you momma. Love always your son Patrick
Mary Mac! Such a wonderful tribute to you here! Endearing stories and so many memories in the pictures! Your family and friends are honoring you well!
I met you a few times here in Ocean Shores at Tom and Patty’s, and once here at my house.
What a firecracker! So much fun to be around you! I remember the “Happy Hours” in the sun in Tom and Patty’s front yard. You were always so kind and made a point to get to know everyone.
Your perseverance and fighting spirit are such inspiration!
You are missed by so many people, especially your brother, Tom! He speaks often of you! (Good things, of course!)
My condolences, prayers, and healing thoughts are with your family and friends.
Dear Mary, I’ll be forever thankful for the blessing of your friendship, and I’ll cherish our many memories. Rest in peace my friend, straighten your halo and fly high (and save me a seat!)