Mary Ann Vail

Mary Ann’s journey began on the 18th of January 1935 in Portland, Oregon. She was the 2nd child born to John & Edith Schaffer. First, they had John, then 5 years later, Mary Ann was born. Mary Ann attended school in Portland, graduating from Washington High. This is where Mary Ann met her husband-to-be, Ronald Lawrence Vail – they were high school sweethearts. Mary Ann took 2 years of secretarial classes, then went to work as a Secretary at a pulp and paper mill called Pope & Talbot.

Ron went into the Coast Guard, stationed in Seattle. Mary Ann would come up and visit – always staying at the YWCA while here. This pleased her prudish mother, who wasn’t too keen on the two staying together out of wedlock. Ron and Mary Ann were married in Portland at the Saint Steven’s church, after he returned from the Coast Guard and graduating from the University of Oregon.

The Vail family welcomed Mary Ann into their family, wholeheartedly. She became very close to Ron’s whole family. In 1956, Ron was hired at Boeing so they moved up here to the Seattle area. Mary Ann also went to work at Boeing as an Executive Secretary and worked there for 10 years. After being unable to have children of their own, Mary Ann & Ron decided they were going to adopt.

They were on vacation in Mexico when they received word that the doctor back in Seattle was trying to get ahold of them due to the impending birth they had been waiting for. So, they cut their vacation short and headed for home. As they were in flight from Mexico on November 30th, 1965, the stork came and delivered 2 beautiful twin boys. As soon as they could get there, Mary Ann & Ron went to the hospital to meet the babies and their birth mom, Marsha. The babies stayed in the hospital for a few days, then they took Steven home first.Then 6 days later, after they were comfortable with one new baby, they came and picked up Scott.

Mary Ann was exhilarated to be a mother and both Steven and Scott were a such a blessing to her life. She immediately quit her job at Boeing to become a stay-at-home mom and enjoyed the many years ahead, raising her children. Later in life, Mary Ann worked for the Bellevue school district in the library of Bellwood Elementary and Newport High.

She also worked for Lake Hills Drug store in Bellevue, for many years. After Steven got married and started having children of his own, Mary Ann became a grandmother – with 2 granddaughters, Kayla and Layla. Mary Ann really looked up to her older brother, John and valued not only their relationship as brother & sister, but also their friendship.

Overall Mary Ann was a very lovely and strong woman, with a beautiful soul, and she will be deeply missed.