James & Mary McGough

Mum and Dad's Obit

James Edmund McGough
Mary Margaret McGough

Mary and Eddie McGough were born in Easington, a small coal mining town in County Durham, England. Mary had three brothers, Michael, Edward and Gerard and Eddie was an only child.

The two fell in love and were married on March, 30, 1959 at Our Lady of Victories. In addition to their devotion to each other through 66 years of married life they had a devotion to Our Lady and prayed the Rosary most days of their lives.

Dad joined the Royal Air Force and was posted to Kenya in the early 1960's. Shortly thereafter, Mum joined Dad in Nairobi with her two very young children, Adrian and Mark, in tow. Mum's intrepid journey, and the ensuing adventures and life-long friendships from their days in Kenya, ignited a passion for travel and a love of people in the McGough family home.

They returned to England where Julia was born in 1967.

In 1973, they moved again - this time to Munich, Germany. The Munich years were filled with further adventure. They traveled Europe and found a special place in their hearts for Italy; they set down German roots but regularly returned to their Easington home; Dad loved Leberkäse and Mum let him; they became steadfast and long-serving members of the Catholic community of St. Bonifaz; Dad fine tuned his love of Irish music and was always ready to entertain everyone with a song...and Mum let him. The International School became not just a place for the children to attend school but a place of work, for Mary, and a loving community for everyone in the family. Munich was always busy, full of activities with their three grown children and visits from friends. It was a time in their lives that was remembered with great love and affection.

Knowing they wanted a warmer climate in retirement however, they relocated once more to the sunshine of Sarasota, Florida and embraced their new life with gusto. Their lives were again filled with strong friendships and laughter, but were now completed by regular visits from their growing cadre of grandchildren.

As they settled into these latter days, there were three things on the calendar that were constants: the crossword in the morning, Jeopardy at night, and Sunday Mass.

Like those commitments, our parents were constants too. They were always present and always together in our lives.

Their last adventure was moving to Vashon in July of 2025. They approached this move with energy, humor and commitment and though it was short lived, they found time to enjoy the beautiful summer and fall, and the wonderful view of the sunrise from their house looking over the Sound.

They lived so long in each other's love that life without the other was unthinkable. Without Mum, Dad was lost so it was a blessing that God called him home two days after she died. Not even death could separate them for long.

Our parents taught us many virtues; faith, forgiveness, self-sacrifice, and compassion. Most importantly, they taught us how to laugh and love. For that we are truly fortunate and grateful.

Mary and Eddie are survived by their three children, Julia, Mark and Adrian and seven grandchildren: Chris, Annelise, Siobhan, Anna, Sam, Ben and Lily.