MARY J. MCCANN

BATTLE GROUND, Wash. — Mary J. McCann passed away peacefully at Creekside Place Memory Care Community in Battle Ground, Wash., on Aug. 7, 2024. She was 80 years old.

Born Mary Jayne Wahl to William and Catherine (Gilfoy) Wahl on Sept. 24, 1943, she grew up in Wilmont, Minn. Mary cherished her childhood there and visited frequently after moving. She loved her parents dearly and remained devoted to them.

After graduating from Our Lady of Good Counsel High School in 1961, Mary continued her education at Worthington Junior College. She adored the friends she grew up with in Nobles County, and the relationships she formed in her youth filled her heart with joy and nourished her soul for decades. Her college roommates became forever friends.

On Aug. 28, 1965, Mary Wahl married Eugene D. McCann of Lismore, Minn., at Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church in Wilmont. The couple moved to Boulder, Colorado., and had their first child, a daughter, Kelly Jayne.

As the wife of a Naval officer who was often at sea, Mary became a pro at doing it all: she raised the children, saw to their education, and supervised cross-country moves with grace and aplomb. The family grew to include three sons: Matthew William, Nathan Thier, and Justin Buckley.

Mary developed a fondness for New England. Upon Gene’s retirement from the Navy in 1979, Mary settled in Middlebury, Vt., with her family.

There, she laid roots, developed close friendships, and thrived professionally. She had a passion for antiques, early American furniture, and interior design and decoration. She took great care and time in making her family’s home on Mead Lane a beautiful and loving home to live in. Mary finished her education at Trinity College in Burlington. For nearly 30 years, she co-operated The Tax Team where she worked selflessly to help her clients.

From the early 2000s onward, Mary and Gene frequently traveled across Europe and the United States, creating countless memories.

In 2006, they moved from Middlebury to Sahuarita, Ariz. After 10 years there, they resettled in Ridgefield, Wash.

Thorough, hardworking and meticulous in all aspects of her life, Mary defended her convictions intelligently and passionately. She supported her family through her strength of will and faith in God. She instilled in her children a love of learning and a sense of personal responsibility, combined with a sense of wonder and gratitude for the world. A faithful Catholic, she was profoundly spiritual, prayed the Rosary daily, and modeled a life rooted in faith and sacrifice. She cultivated a unique personal fashion style that kept her youthful and hip.

Mary is survived by Gene, her husband of nearly 59 years; four children and their spouses, Kelly (Bill), Matt (Casey), Nathan (Amanda), and Justin; along with five grandchildren, Carisa, Corinne, Jamison, Catherine, and Declan. Mary will be remembered for her keen intelligence, delight in off-color jokes, wizard-like organizational skills, and, above all, as a devoted wife and loving mother.

Mary will be buried at Calvary Cemetery in Wilmont, Minn. A funeral Mass will be held at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Battle Ground, Wash. In lieu of flowers, a donation can be made to the Alzheimer’s Association. tinyurl.com/curealz.◊