Mary Elizabeth Bridges

Mary Elizabeth Bridges, 105, passed away on August 25 at the Tri-City Chaplaincy Hospice in Kennewick, WA. Mary was born on April 9, 1907, in Havre, MT, to John and Carrie Tattan. She was the oldest of four siblings.

After graduating from high school, Mary attended Montana State University in Bozeman, MT. She graduated in 1929 with a degree in Home Economics. She taught for 6 years in public school before returning to Helena, MT, to work for the WPS Works Progress Administration where she met and married Walter Thomas Bridges. The couple later moved to Eugene, OR, where Walt was district manager for Northern Life Insurance and Mary was his secretary. Walt and Mary welcomed a daughter, Julie Ann, when Mary was 41. Shortly after, at age 44, Mary was widowed.

Mary returned to college at the University of Oregon to complete her degree in education, and then began teaching in the Eugene School District, where she taught for 21 years. During her teaching years Mary progressed from teacher to counselor to school psychologist. During the summers she taught at the University of Oregon. Education was her love, and many have benefited from her teaching.

Mary retired in 1972 and moved to Colorado where her daughter and son-in-law Chuck Coleman welcomed the two joys of her life – her grandsons Andy and Todd. She then followed them to Pasco where she lived the remainder of her life. Through her retirement years Mary helped care for her grandsons and was their biggest fan in the stands throughout their athletic careers, particularly during baseball season. She was known as "Grandma" to all the baseball boys. Mary also spent many, many hours volunteering both at her church and in the community, and she enjoyed knitting very much. She made lap robes for the hospital and blankets for the nursery until her eyesight failed, and her dish clothes are going to be dearly missed. Mary was also an avid Seattle Mariners fan. Most of all, she was thrilled to spend time with her six great-grandchildren and one great, great-grandson, who all knew her by GeeGee, and she was special to each one of them.

Mary is survived by her daughter Julie Coleman Chuck of Pasco; grandson Andy Coleman Michelle and great-grandchildren Kelsey, Kamryn and Drew of Walla Walla; and grandson Todd Coleman Abby and great-grandchildren Jacob Becca, Keegan and Kennedy, and great, great-grandson Brycen, all of Pasco.

Mary was preceded in death by husband Walter Bridges, sister Theodora Lewis, and brothers Jack and Mark. The family would like to thank all of the nurses and support staff at the Tri-City Chaplaincy Hospice for their excellent care of our GeeGee. You are truly angels.

The Recitation of the Holy Rosary will be held in the Chapel at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Kennewick, WA, on Sunday, September 2, 2012, at 8:00 pm. The Memorial Mass will be held in the new church at St. Joseph's in Kennewick, on Monday, September 3, 2012, at 10:00am.

In lieu of flowers, a donation to the Tri-City Chaplaincy Hospice in Kennewick 2108 W. Entiat, Kennewick, WA 99336 would be welcomed by the family.