Mary Lou Larsen was born on Aug. 23, 1925 on Bainbridge Island. Although she was raised in Redmond, Wash., a piece of her was always an “Island girl.” Shortly after the war, she married Bill Mack, a Merchant Marine, and another lover of the sea. She and her husband, Bill, had four children. From the time that the oldest child could safely travel in public, Mary Lou and Bill saw to it that all of the children were able to spend as much of their time as possible on the beaches of the Sound. Every summer, Mary Lou would pack up their old car and load it up with the children. Then Bill would hitch their old, peeling rowboat to the car. Mary Lou would fill the boat with all the necessities: highchairs, play pens, suitcases, sleeping bags and coolers. She used those bright orange life jackets to pad the brimming load. Bamboo fishing poles got tucked into the sides. Finally, the family would head out for the ferry. Before the car had barely rolled to a stop in front of the fishing cabins at Sunrise Beach Resort in Langley, the kids would be jumping out and running for their first feel of sand.
Even as they added numerous foster children to their family, the summer goal was to spend as much time on Whidbey as possible. Mary Lou, aka Mom, Lou, and later Grandma and Great-Grandma, managed to make all that transporting and vacationing look easy. She did this regardless of how many children she was raising. It was not surprising, then, as they reached retirement and all those children were finally grown, that Mary Lou and Bill retired by the water. They bought a permanent place on Whidbey. There, for the next 30 years, Mary Lou made their home. Retirement, of course, was meant for “The Island.”
Living in Freeland was quite possibly the happiest time of Mary Lou’s entire life. She and her husband, Bill, were seldom apart. The Freeland community provided both of them with many opportunities. They joined Trinity Lutheran Church and loved shopping at PayLess and Ace Hardware. Of course, nearly every weekend Mary Lou and Bill were visited by one of their many family members. She seemed to always be surrounded by their children, grandchildren or the children of one of the many foster kids she helped raise. Any children she met on South Whidbey also fell under her charms. As the years passed, Mary Lou added numerous great-grandchildren to her loving admirers. She taught them all vital life skills, such as “Always eat dessert first because life is short,” or how to bake cupcakes or even the correct way to wash a doll’s hair. She was not sexist; the little boys, not just the girls, learned these skills, as well the fun of putting on bright red toenail polish. It was not at all unusual for Mary Lou to walk kids across the road to Freeland Park. There, she could be seen teaching a child how to pump a swing or how to master the climbing bars. Sometimes they were “hers,” and sometimes they were just children in need of a little attention. Mary Lou rejoiced in each child’s victory, no matter how seemingly small they might be.
At Freeland Park, Mary Lou and Bill also regularly launched their small boat. Together they went fishing. Mary Lou usually caught the most fish. They both joined a bowling league at Freeland Lanes. Mary Lou, of course, out scored him. They dined as a special treat at one of Freeland’s intimate restaurants. Occasionally, Mary Lou and Bill joined other seniors from the Island for a bus trip to Reno. While on those trips, Mary Lou, of course, won more money than Bill, though Bill definitely ate more than she did.
No matter what they were doing, they loved their time together by the water. In their front yard, Mary Lou worked on her roses. She carefully groomed and watered her large lawn and her variety of other flowers. She kept a close eye on Bill as he rode their lawn mower. Mary Lou and Bill celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary at Freeland Hall. Many of their family and lots of friends filled the hall to capacity. For their 60th anniversary, their children sent them on a cruise to Alaska.
As much as she liked her walks with Bill and enjoyed canning fruit from their many trees, Mary Lou always looked forward most of all to the weekly bingo game at the Senior Center. That was the true highlight of her week. Even when she grew older and her vision began to fail, she eagerly awaited those Wednesday evening games. Though she chose to stay on the Island despite Bill’s chronic illness, she never missed her bingo game. When she nursed Bill through his final days, she showered him with unconditional love. It was, however, those bingo games that carried her through her darkest days after his death. Even when driving became difficult, her friends from the island drove her.
After Bill died, bringing an end to 63 years together, Mary Lou clung to the life that Whidbey provided for her. She could be seen sitting on her porch, sipping her orange floats and enjoying those peaceful views of Holmes Harbor. The breeze off the water brought her real comfort. Neighbors embraced her and, in true Whidbey fashion, looked after her when she needed anything.
Finally, four years ago, when she became too fragile to live by herself, Mary Lou reluctantly agreed to move to Seattle, rationalizing that it would “make it easier for her children.” Still, she pined for the peace and quiet of the Island. She kept photos of the view out of their Freeland front window hung on her new living room wall. She missed the deer and the rabbits that frequented her yard, too. In her new home, every time a siren went by, it was a personal affront to the quiet she loved on “her Island.” She continued to frequent Freeland businesses whenever possible, even vicariously until the end. When old friends called or her children had returned to Whidbey for a visit, she clung on their stories, barraging them with questions. She longed for those 3rd of July celebrations to the very end. She remembered the huge gatherings of family and friends that “oohed and aahed” at the fireworks from on her front yard. She described them to anyone who was at all interested.
Mary Lou passed away from cancer in her “substitute home” on June 20 after a brief period in a hospice program. During those last days, she was surrounded by some of her adoring grandchildren, great grandchildren, and her daughters and close family members, as well as the numerous young staff from Merrill Gardens that she had befriended.
A short celebration of Mary Lou’s life will be held on her birthday at 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 23, 2014, at Freeland Park. Refreshments will follow because you could not go to her home without being fed. (Her family promises not to serve any of their terrible coffee, however.) Please stop by and join us in our celebration. Children of any age are welcome.
Mary Lou’s family will be placing a memorial bench at Freeland Park, where many of Mary Lou and Bill’s “children” grew up. In lieu of flowers, Mary Lou requested that any remembrances be sent to “The Mack Memorial Bench Fund,” c/o 14401 First Ave NW, Seattle, WA 98177.
