Mary Lou McDougall
02/16/1935 - 12/29/2021
Resident of Half Moon Bay, CA
Mary Lou (Praeder) McDougall passed away on December 29, 2021 at Peninsula Hospital in Burlingame, CA at the age of 86 after suffering a sudden stroke just days earlier.
Mary Lou was the youngest child and only daughter of John and Louise Praeder. She was born on February 16, 1935 and was a life-long San Mateo County Coastside resident, eventually settling in Half Moon Bay, where she lived in the same house for nearly 70 years.
As a child, Mary Lou lived on the family farm in San Gregorio, which made it impossible to make the daily commute to the nearest Elementary School in Half Moon Bay. Fortunately, she was able to live with her Aunt Mabel Bell (who live near the school and was also a Teacher) during the weekdays when school was in session. She met the love of her life in 4th grade, when the boy who sat behind her in class kept pulling her hair. Mary Lou and Pat became inseparable since the 4th grade, were engaged during their Senior Year of High School, and got married on Valentine's Day (February 14, 1953) two days before Mary Lou turned 18.
Pat and Mary Lou bought their first and only home in 1953 where they raised their two sons (Michael McDougall and Patrick McDougall III). Mary Lou was a wonderful and protective mother. She provided a stable and loving home for her family, was always there when her sons needed anything, and her passing leaves a big hole in their lives.
Once her youngest son turned 18, Mary Lou entered the work force for the first time where she had a successful career as a Pre-School Teacher. Mary Lou enjoyed annual trips to Hawaii with Pat where they established a comfortable vacation routine at the Princess Kaiulani Resort, booking the same room and the same pool chair for Mary Lou each year. Mary Lou also enjoyed "overseeing" Pat's various home improvement and expansion projects over the years.
Being the youngest of her family, Mary Lou embraced the challenges of caring for her mother (Louise Praeder) and her older brothers in their last years of life. Just as she did when she was a young mother, she stepped in to provide her family with the love and stability they needed during their final years on earth.
Mary Lou is preceded in death by her parents, John F. Praeder and Louise Praeder; her three older brothers, Jack Praeder, of Half Moon Bay, Harold Praeder, of Santa Rosa, and Louis Praeder of Orland. She is survived by her husband Patrick Jay McDougall, Jr., her two sons Michael J. McDougall of Carlsbad and Patrick J. McDougall III of Half Moon Bay, two grand-children (Derek McDougall of Carlsbad and Kellyn Swenson of San Marcos), and five great-grand-children (Hadley 8, Summer 5, Porter 4, Lyla 3, and Bria 1).
Arrangements for Mary Lou were handled by Miller-Dutra Coastside Chapel with burial at Our Lady of the Pillar Cemetery. A private family service was held on January 10, 2022 at Miller-Dutra Coastside Chapel in Half Moon Bay.

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Published by The Mercury News on Jan. 21, 2022.