Mary Pat Stone was born March 17, 1950 in Philadelphia, Pa. The eldest of three daughters and two sons, she was born to John and Helen Leimbach of Glenside, Pa.

Mary Pat was appropriately named Mary Patricia, having been born on St. Patrick’s Day — the day, and her Catholic heritage, would always remain a cherished part of who she was.

St. Luke’s Catholic School and Bishop McDevitt High School helped shape the incredibly giving, caring person we knew as Mary Pat. Always smiling, always with a kind word, she left an indelible impression on everyone.

Attending a party following the Army-Navy game in 1972, she met and made that kind of impression on a young, freshman “Plebe” at West Point, Greg Stone — a Seattle native who’d been coming to Maxwelton Beach since he was a little boy. A storybook romance followed throughout Greg’s cadet years and continued right on into 40+ years of an amazing marriage.

Army assignments to Germany (three times; six years) and Korea ( two years) as well as throughout the United States marked this “Army Mom,” raising her family as deployments and training kept her and Greg apart more than either of them would like.

They were eventually blessed with four wonderful children, Patrick, Christian, Keegan and Theresa, each of whom would be commissioned and serve our nation and Army in war as well as peace. This included being an “Army Mom” and mother while all of them were simultaneously deployed overseas in combat operations — a true testament to her strength and faith.

Mary Pat first visited Whidbey in the summer of 1973. That trip began a love affair she had with our island, which would remain with her for her entire life. Mary Pat loved the beach and sand; she loved the tide and surf; she loved the wind, trees, eagles and gulls, which help signify the beauty of the island we call home.

She and Greg moved to Maxwelton in 2011 as their life journey together called an end to their Army life and brought them to the beach. All who saw her know her love of the beach and her ability to enjoy it with her dogs — who she loved in the most close, warm way possible.

It’s a gross understatement to say that Mary Pat was as happy as she’s ever been while living on Whidbey. Her beach, her time with the wonderful community of St. Hubert, and the incredibly giving folks at Senior Thrift, all helped mark her time here.

That is clearly coupled with the fact that her children blessed her and Greg with eight adorable grandchildren: five beautiful girls, Michaela, Malia, Scarlett, Tierney and Kelea; and three bustling, energetic little boys, Gunner, Dax and Killian. “Shan,” as she was known to each of them, loved them with every fiber in her heart and body…being Shan defined Mary Pat in the very best way possible.

Mary Pat was taken from all of us far too early. Her faith and belief in our Lord formed and shaped her. Her love of family was unquenchable, setting a standard for caring, compassion and unconditional love that was infectious to all.

We were truly blessed by her presence; we were amazingly lucky to have her in our lives. Mary Pat leaves us with an extraordinary legacy of love.

We will celebrate that legacy with a Vigil Service at 6:30 p.m. Monday, April 17 at St. Hubert Church in Langley. We will then further celebrate her life with a Funeral Mass at 11 a.m. Tuesday, April 18 at St. Hubert, followed by her burial at Bayview Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, Greg and the Stone family have asked that donations be made to Catholic Relief Services — Mary Pat — “Shan” loved so many and wanted to help in every way she could.