Mary Marie (Ellis) Manion, 91, a longtime Skagit Valley resident, went home to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on March 10, 2019 at her home in Sedro-Woolley.

Mary was born on May 26, 1927, the daughter of John & Mary (Ferguson) Ellis in the Eastern Washington community of Malaga, there she was raised on a fruit ranch where she treasured gathering shooting star flowers in the spring, picking wild asparagus in the orchard, floating open pea pods (with little round people inside) down the irrigation ditches and lighting the family’s one roman candle on the 4^th of July.  When she was three years of age, Mary suffered from rheumatic fever which flared up over the years causing numerous health issues throughout her life which she continually worked to overcome. Mary attended Malaga grade school until 1938, when the family moved to a Sedro-Woolley area dairy farm. Mary attended Samish grade school and Sedro-Woolley High School, graduating with the class of 1945, becoming the first of the family to graduate high school. Mary worked in a local cannery and other seasonal jobs except during WWII when she stayed home to help her aged parents on the family farm while her brothers were serving our country overseas.

On May 17, 1951 Mary was united in marriage to Thomas D. Manion in Acme, WA, they made their home and raised their family in Wickersham until 1960; they then moved to Clear Lake making their home there until 1992 when they settled in Sedro-Woolley.

Mary was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She enjoyed playing her Dobro guitar, sewing and embroidering and her spare time found her painting, mostly landscapes in oil and acrylic paints, writing songs and poems for special occasions. She was a past member of the Skagit Art Association and was a longtime member of Community Covenant Church of Clear Lake, where she taught Sunday School & Women’s Bible Study for over 30 years. She was the oldest and longest standing member of the church.

Mary is survived by her children and their spouses, Patsy & Bert Nelson of Sedro-Woolley and Tim & Heidi Manion of Burlington; 5 grandchildren, Shenalyn Castoldi (Ryan), Dornita Castilleja (Frank), and Steven, Troy, and Annie Manion; 4 great-grandchildren, Miah & Brenna Castilleja and Ethan & Aiden Castoldi and numerous nieces and nephews.  She was preceded by her parents; husband, Thomas; grandson, Levi Manion; sister, Irene Jackson Blankenship and brothers, Jim, Austin, Joe, Charley, Valentine, Ford & Donald Ellis.

Memorials in honor of Mary are suggested to Community Covenant Church.

A Graveside Service will be held on Monday, March 18, 2019 at 12:30 PM at the Sedro-Woolley Union Cemetery followed by a Life Celebration Service at 2:00 PM at Community Covenant Church of Clear Lake.  Arrangements are under the direction of Lemley Chapel, Sedro-Woolley.