Mary F. Roon

Mary F. Roon, 67, of Port Angeles passed away August 20, 2011, of colon cancer.

Mary was born to Anthony and Mary Andriese in Chicago, Illinois, on July 15, 1944.

Mary married Robert J. Roon on July 16, 1966.

"And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God."

Mary Roon embodied these words in her life and work. A lifelong advocate for equality and justice, Mary became a registered nurse at age 40 because of a strong desire to empower women.

After working at the University of Minnesota for 10 years as an obstetrical nurse, her frustration with invasive birthing practices led her to pursue a master's degree as a certified nurse midwife. She worked for five years for the Mayo Clinic Health System in rural Minnesota.

In 2000, she moved to Port Angeles to become a practitioner at the Peninsula Women's Clinic.

Mary loved her work as a women's health care provider, relishing the opportunity to treat the whole person. She tried to see beyond her clients' immediate clinical symptoms to focus on their overall nutritional and psychological health.

She was beloved by many because of her concern and empathy. She persisted in her work as long as her health permitted, delivering her last baby about six weeks ago. She absolutely adored and was totally bonded to fellow midwives Debbie Bopp and Lyell Fox.

Mary believed that her faith should be integrated into all corners of her life. She was an unabashed social and political liberal, insisting that humanitarian concerns should trump economic self-interest.

Her concern for civil rights is mirrored by her interracial family, achieved by birth and adoption.

Her charitable interests, which were many and eclectic, included environmental advocacy groups and educational institutions. Mary clearly loved justice and mercy, but her humility needs a bit of an explanation: She was not humble in the meek and mild sense; in fact, she could be fiercely in-your-face if she thought the cause was just.

Her humbleness centered on her conviction that all persons were created with equal rights and should be treated with love and respect.

Mary loved life fiercely, always seeking adventure. She was a prolific reader and writer with a keen, uncompromising wit, as well as an avid gardener, cook and keeper of chickens.

During the last few years, she rafted a class IV waterfall in the Ecuadorian Andes, swam with sharks in the Galapagos and mantas in Hawaii, and ran a triathlon. She rarely slowed down but reveled in the beauty of creation, living her life as one extended hymn of praise.

Mary is survived by her children, David Roon of Moscow, Idaho, Maria Roon of St. Paul, Minnesota, and Amy Roon of Seattle; and by her husband, Robert Roon of Port Angeles. Her ragtag crew of grandchildren and extended family include Justice Roon, Benjamin Roon, Drew and McKenzy Bogden, Lisette Waits, Michelle Schuiteman, Jose Marin Jarrin, Shakeela Gibson, Anna Gifford and Kathy Balling. Her loving sister, Norma Schuiteman, of Olympia, Washington, was at Mary's side for five weeks during her final struggle with colon cancer.

We love you, Mary, and we will miss you deeply.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, August 27, 2011, at 10:30 a.m. at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 301 East Lopez Avenue, Port Angeles; and on Sunday, September 11, 2011, at 2 p.m. at University Congregational United Church of Christ, 4515 16th Avenue Northeast, Seattle. The Revs. Richard Grinstad, Peter Ilgenfritz and Amy Roon will officiate. A reception will follow each service.

Memorial contributions may be made at Natural Resources Defense Council, www.nrdc.org/joingive; Olympic Medical Center Foundation; the Patient Navigator Fund; or a charity of your choice.

Please visit the online guestbook at www.drennanford.com.