Mary Minahan Sturkey died on April 23, 2004 at South Pointe Assisted Living residence in Everett, Wash. She was the wife of Navy Commander Charles Sturkey, who passed away in July 2002. Mary and Charles made their home on Honeymoon Bay where they kept their trimaran, CHAMARU.

Mary was born May 19, 1921 in the home of her parents in Skibberen, County Cork, Ireland. Her brother still lives in the family home. During World War II, she worked for the British government. At the time she met Charles, she was processing war brides to come to the United States. After the war Charles was posted in London with the Office of Foreign Liquidation to sell surplus water craft. Charles was not a salesman, but he knew Mary could talk to anyone so they teamed up, fell in love and the team lasted a lifetime. When that job finished, Mary traveled to Vallejo, Calif. to visit with the California Minahans. Charles was transferred to Boston Naval Shipyard and found life without Mary was lonely. They married on January 24,1948.

From Boston they moved to Staten Island where Charles worked at the Navy shipyard in Brooklyn. The next tour of duty was in Turkey. Mary created a garden at their home in Iznit Bay and wrote letters educating friends and family on Turkey. The letter grew into an annual Christmas letter she continued up to her death.

After Turkey, Charles and Mary moved to Bremerton, where Charles was the officer in charge of modernizing the U.S.S. Coral Sea. Mary began selling real estate and her profits paid for construction of CHAMARU, the trimaran Charles dreamed of building. After two years they were sent to Sasebo, Japan for their last tour of duty. Charles retired from the Navy in 1968, and they built the trimaran. They engaged Abraham Magpatoc to sail with with them on the world cruise that began in 1969, and ended a world circumnavigation at Suva on July 4, 1974. Mary was most proud that the crew of three that set sail in 1969 was the same crew that completed the trip.

After the world cruise they all sailed back to Whidbey Island. There Mary found a place to build a a home where Charles could look out the window at CHAMARU. Mary began selling real estate for Marine Land and persuaded Charles to join her in real estate sales.

Abraham settled nearby working for the Nichols Brothers Shipyard. He married Marina and the two of them became an important part of the Sturkey family. Charles and Mary helped Abraham achieve the American dream; in turn Abraham and Marin made a normal life possible for Charles and Mary later in life.

In 1998, Mary arranged their 50th wedding anniversary at the Polo Towers in Las Vegas, where she and Charles vacationed for many years. She invited the entire family to join her and Charles for the celebration.

Mary brought a very positive attitude and and generous spirit to the world. She believed that giving was a a source of her good fortune. She was right, as Mary found close friends everywhere she went. She will be missed by everyone who knew her.

Mary is preceded in death by her husband, Charles (July 14, 2002) and her sisters; Christine, Bridie and Kathleen.

She is survived by family members; Margaret Kurt, Betty Cantoni, Hanna Whitworth, Jerome Minahan and Abraham and Marina Magpatoc.

Graveside services will be held April 28 at 2 p.m. at Bayview Cemetery in Langley. A reception will follow the service at the Useless Country Club. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Freeland Library or the Langley Methodist Church.