Mary Emma Richardson

Mary Emma Brewer was a small-town Georgia girl with big dreams. The youngest of nine, her father had died before she was born, and all her brothers and sisters had already left home. She and her mother, with their help, worked a small farm. Mary loved learning, but there was no money for high school so they moved to Jacksonville, Florida, to be with family. Mary found a job in a drug store, where one day a young sailor, Bob Richardson, drifted in.

Mary and Bob were married in 1942. By 1943, their first son, Earl, was born and Mary had begun her career as a Navy wife. More babies followed- April (Georgia), Linn (Tennessee), John (Tennessee), Dean (Florida), and Dave (Texas). "One for every cruise" was the joke for a while.

Bob retired from the Navy in 1960 and got a job at Boeing, and the family lived in Kirkland. Mary became very active in PTA (Parent-Teacher Association) at the school and district levels once the younger boys were in school. She also became a member of the Citizens Advisory council for the establishment of the Eastside Mental Health Clinic in the Kirkland-Bellevue area. After around 30 years of marriage, Bob and Mary had some things to work out, and separated briefly. In the 70's with her youngest in high school, she got a job at Harborview Medical center in the Eye Clinic where she made long lasting friends. Mary loved to dance, and Bob realized that he had to learn to dance to please her. The two took lessons at Arthur Murray Dance Studios and learned the Foxtrot, Waltz, Cha-Cha, you name it! They had fun! The two of them enjoyed going out with friends to the Officers' Club at Sand Point Naval Air Station.

Mary had a beautiful voice and loved to sing. A long-time favorite was, "Send Me the Pillow That You Dream On." Bob's favorite was, "Till I Waltz Again With You."