Mae Kohlwes was born to Norwegian immigrants John and Matilda Stone on Aug. 3, 1909 in New Westminster, British Columbia, Canada and died June 24, 2010 in Freeland.

Mabel joined sister Jenny, age 3.

Matilda died shortly after Mabel’s birth and John remarried. In 1911, Mabel’s father drowned in the Fraser River while commercial fishing. Mabel’s stepmother moved to Seattle, taking Jenny with her and leaving Mabel at the Martha and Mary Lutheran Orphanage in Poulsbo.

Martha and Mary’s caregiver Inga Thorsheim became Mabel’s foster parent and brought her to join husband Ben and live in Clinton, on Whidbey Island. Three children were subsequently born to Inga and Ben: Charlotte, Drusilla, and Benjamin, all deceased. Mabel’s sister Jenny died at age 15.

Mabel remained in the Thorsheim household until completing Langley High School.

Following business school, Mabel (aka Mae) joined the Seattle work force. In 1928, she married Henry Kohlwes whose parents, William and Mary, had purchased land on Useless Bay in 1904.

Mae and Hank lived in Seattle’s Ballard community until 1945 when they and their three children moved to a new home on the Sunlight Beach hillside.

In 1955, Mae returned to work as a secretary for Washington State Fisheries at Fisherman’s Wharf and then administrative assistant at the University of Washington School of Fisheries. 

Retiring in 1968, Mae and Hank’s frugal and healthy lifestyle afforded them the opportunity to spend several winters in Honolulu, Hawaii and San Diego, Calif.

They traveled the world extensively, including many memorable cruises with good friends and family. In retirement, they learned to play bridge and golf and were members of Useless Bay Golf & Country Club. Henry died in 1999 at age 93 after 72 years of marriage.

Mae was remarkably vibrant, independent and healthy — playing the piano, teaching card games to grandkids and driving her car until age 98, when she moved to Maple Ridge Assisted Living in Freeland, with daughter Janet as her full-time caregiver.

She is survived by her children Bob Kohlwes (Karen) and Janet Witsoe of Sunlight Beach, and Gary Kohlwes (Betty) of Renton and Mutiny Bay; eight grandchildren and their much-loved offspring.

Mae’s ashes will be placed in the Kohlwes plot at Bayview Cemetery during a family service.