Mary Monroe

Mary Laura Monroe, 73, a resident of Port Orchard, died at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle in the presence of her family. She was born in Houston, Texas on July 28, 1936 to Albert and Mildred (Fagen) McWilliams. She graduated from San Perlita High School in 1954 and Texas A&I in Kingsville with a Bachelor of Science in Education in 1966. She married her sole mate, Raymond Monroe in San Perlita on January 26, 1957.  They were happily married for 54 years. Mary taught grades 2-6 at Pleasant Valley and Sunnyslope Elementary Schools for 25 years, retiring in 1992. She offered a Model Rocket Program and Mushroom Hunting and Classification Course to her fifth graders.  Mary was a role model for her students and was rewarded by being included in the Who's Who of American Teachers for 2005-2006.  During her career and into her retirement, she was approached by many students she had taught who expressed what a difference she had made in their life.  She enjoyed fishing, mushroom hunting, gardening, and traveling with her husband in their motor home throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico. She was Baptist. She will be deeply missed by her family, friends, and students. She is survived by her husband, Ray Monroe; son, Kelly Monroe of Portland, Oregon; daughter, Toni Denise Reed (Gary) of Manette, Washington; granddaughter Dawn Reed-Schadek (Peter), and great-grandson Cole James Schadek of California. A Celebration of her Life will be held Friday, February 5, 2010 at 2:00pm at Rill Chapel in Port Orchard. In lieu of flowers donations may be made in Mary’s name to Sunnyslope Elementary, 4183 Sunnyslope Rd SW, Port Orchard, WA 98367.