Mary Ellen Van Citters

Mary passed away quietly in her sleep at home on 30 June 2012. She was 84. Mary was born in Kansas City, Kansas on December 10, 1927, the first child of Edward D and Eva Mae Barker. She grew up in Kansas City and attended local schools including Wyandotte High School where she was active in school events, editor of the year book The Quivirian and an honor graduate. She enrolled at Christian college and later transferred to the University of Kansas to study Child Development. She met her husband to be on the first day of class; they were immediately inseparable, married at graduation and were together for 63 years. Mary was gentle and soft spoken; she raised 4 children without raising her voice. Mary taught Special Education at pre-school and primary grade levels in the Prairie Village and Lawrence school districts. Following periods in Albuquerque and La Jolla, the family moved to Edmonds where they have lived for 50 years. She enjoyed the Northwest and was particularly fond of boating, fishing, and swimming in the Puget Sound. She enjoyed frequent visits to Hawaii, Alaska, and B.C. Canada. In later years, she accompanied her husband on a number of trips around the world, with numerous open-ended visits to remote locations. Survivors include her husband, Robert; four children: sons Robert and David and their families who reside in Edmonds and daughters Mary Bagby of Woodinville and Saramary Ziegler of San Diego; also her brother Thomas.