Maria Louise (McIlroy) McLaughlin Obituary (1920

Maria Louise (McIlroy) McLaughlin of Bremerton, Washington, passed away on June 4, 2003 at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, Washington. She was 82 years of age. She was born on November 30, 1920 in Eagle Pass, Texas to Col. F.W. & Marguerite (Van Bibber) McIlroy. She attended high school in Port Townsend, Washington, graduating in 1938. She was a graduate of nursing school and served in the United States Army during World War II with the Army Nurses Corps. She was crowned Rhododendron Queen of Port Townsend in 1936, won the International Poet of Merit Award in 2002, and was a member of the Prince William Hospital Auxiliary in Manassas, Virginia. She was a member of the United Methodist Church and bingo was her favorite pastime. Her parents, sister Harried Crowder, and brother Van McIlroy precede her in death. Her husband, Richard McLaughlin of Tahuya, Washington; son John McLaughlin of Manassas; daughters Catherine Fixemer of Tahuya and Christine Balesteri of Stewartstown, Pennsylvania; brothers Fred McIlroy of Seattle and Bill McIlroy of Rio Vista, California; and sisters Jane Ramseur of Conway, South Carolina and Mariwade Douglas of Albuquerque, New Mexico survive her. A private memorial service will be held at the family home at a later date. Memorial donations may be made in her name to the Island Wildlife Rehabilitation Center of Bloedel, 7501 Northeast Dolphin Drive, Bainbridge Island, Washington, 98110.