Mary Louise (Theriault) Sullivan

“Mothers hold their children’s hands for a short while, but their hearts forever”

Mary Louise was born in Calloway, Minnesota to her parents Antoinette and Clarence Theriault. She was 8 years old when her family of two brothers Clarence Jr. and William tragically lost their mother. Her father remarried Ruth McDougall and relocated the family to Tacoma, WA where seven more siblings came along later to make a large family of 10 children, even in those days.

Mary Louise graduated from St. Leo’s Catholic high school in 1944 where she was at the top of her class. She then met the love of her life, Douglas James Sullivan. They married on July 3rd 1948 after a 4 year courtship, and had 6 beautiful children. They moved to a twenty acre farm in Olalla in 1958 where there were many happy times while remodeling a big farm house, bailing hay, raising cattle, chickens, horses, and fished in the streams, as well as blackberry picking, canning, and gardening with lots of big family gatherings and helpers. When the “girls” started dating they moved the clan to Gig Harbor in 1964.

Mary worked for many years in Customer Service in Gig Harbor at Olympic Drugs, Gig Harbor Phone Company and as a teller at Telco Credit Union. She gathered many, dear friends over the years and was a wonderful inspiration not only to her sisters and brothers, but to her children as well.  Her life-long creative interests were traveling and collecting antiques with her husband Douglas. They later opened the “Treasure Chest Antiques” in their Gig Harbor residence in the 1990’s.  Mary also created beautiful oil paintings which are part of the family art collections.  

Mary was so very grateful for all the loving support from her husband Douglas, and her family during her illness. She was also grateful for Franciscan Hospice in Tacoma, WA, and the caregivers at Sound Vista Village in Gig Harbor where Douglas remains in Assisted Living.

Mary Louise leaves behind her six children; Antoinette Gibbs (Jerry) of Gig Harbor, Christine Stremme (Jim), Des Moines, Cecilia Graydon(Chuck), Gig Harbor, Julianna Dougherty (Bill)of Bellevue, Theresa Rybin (Mark) Gig Harbor, Doug Jr. (Janeth) of Purdy and grandchildren Jonathan Swanberg of Tacoma, Leah Salatino (Swanberg) of Gig Harbor, James and (A) Stremme of Seattle,  and Jeremy (Tanya) Stremme of Portland, OR,  Jessica Cole (Nick) Meyer of Burien, and Chelsea Cole of Gig Harbor, Marielle Dusenberry (Bryan) Rivas, of Bellevue, Gretchen Dougherty of Seattle, Rayce Rybin of Gig Harbor, Justin and Jared Sullivan of Purdy and great grandchildren Jack Salatino, Noah and Helena Stremme, and all of Mary’s sisters and brothers, Rose and Peter Hokanson of Gig Harbor, Barbara and Mike Wick of Puyallup, Bill and Joan Theriault of Tacoma,  Janice and Jeff Nelson of Bellingham, Joan Peterson of Lakewood, Darrell and Debbie Theriault and Doug and Dawn Theriault all of Olalla, and Kathleen and Scott Olsson of Farmington, NM.

Mary Louise was preceded in death by her eldest brother Clarence Theriault, Jr. of Minnesota.

Donations may be made to the American Lung Association.  Please sign Mary’s virtual guestbook, leave memories and condolences, or light a candle at www.havenrest.com. 

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