Mary Ann Dawson

Mary was born and raised in Des Moines, Iowa. She cherished her memories of growing up in the Mid-West with her parents, Niels and Anna Hansen, and her sister Pauline (Polly). Her father, a cabinet maker when he immigrated to the US from Denmark in 1916, went on to earn his M.D. at the University of Nebraska and establish what became a busy medical practice, first in Avoca and later in Des Moines. Her mother, a nurse who was the daughter of Danish immigrants, worked alongside Niels in his office before dedicating herself to raising their family. Mary spoke of her parents with deep affection throughout her life.

Mary attended East High School from 1943-46. There she met her future husband, John Hamilton Dawson. After graduating, she enrolled at Gustavus Aldophus College in St. Peter, Minnesota. She transferred to Iowa Lutheran Hospital Nursing School in Des Moines and graduated in 1949.

John and Mary were married in April of 1950 and honeymooned for six weeks in the Southwest, visiting national parks including Zion, Bryce, and the Grand Canyon. Mary was enchanted by the vibrant colors of the desert, the grandeur of the mountains and the vast wide open spaces she had previously known only from movies. Though she loved Iowa, the West beckoned.

Their first children arrived in 1954 and 1956 while the couple lived in the Chicago suburbs. When Mary’s sister, Polly, moved to Seattle with her husband, Dr. John Lindberg, in 1957, it felt natural for John and Mary to follow. They moved in 1958, settled on Mercer Island, and the following year joined the Mercer Island Covenant Church - a community that would be central to Mary’s life for the next 66 years.

In 1963 John became Chief of Surgery at the Presbyterian Mission Hospital in Daegu, Korea. He had served as a Marine Corps battalion surgeon during the Korean War and had been deeply affected by what he had seen of war, poverty and disease. When a medical school classmate invited the Dawsons to serve for three years at the mission hospital, John and Mary readily accepted. They set off in October 1963 with their four young sons.

The years spent in Korea were among the happiest and fullest of Mary’s life. She taught English at the nursing school and thrived on the sense of purpose that guided the family as well as the cultural richness of a dynamic country with an ancient history. After three eventful years - and the birth of their 5th son - the family returned to Seattle in 1966.

As the boys entered their teenage years and their schedules filled with school work, sports teams, summer camps and youth groups Mary was in perpetual motion. She shuttled them to countless activities and cheered them on from the sidelines of soccer matches and the bleachers of football, baseball and track meets. Endless bags of groceries were brought into the kitchen only to disappear within a day or two. Mary managed it all with patience, humor and love.

In May of 1977, tragedy struck. Her son Peter, aged 18, was in a motorcycle accident that took his eyesight. Bolstered by her faith she summoned the strength to support him, while still tending to her younger boys. While John oversaw the numerous surgeries Peter required, Mary remained steadfastly at her son’s side through each stage of recovery. Her resilience during this period became one of the most profound expressions of her character.

Mary and John divorced in 1987. She moved to Covenant Shores in 2004, where she quickly became a favorite among the residents and staff. Mary possessed a cheerful, warm-hearted and forgiving nature. She was enthusiastically social, avidly engaging people she encountered - waiters, flight attendants, nurses, cashiers, friends of her children and complete strangers. Among her close friends, she will be remembered for her kindness, personal warmth and empathy for others.

She had impressive musical talent. She was a gifted pianist who played hymns by ear with an effortless touch and could sing both soprano and alto. She remembered names easily and was always eager to hear how her grandchildren were doing. She loved to travel, savor strongly flavored ethnic foods, and marvel at natural beauty - whether a sunset, snow-capped mountains or a sweeping ocean view.

Mary’s Christian faith was the center of her life. She loved reading and studying the Bible, and committed many verses to memory. She prayed daily for divine guidance. She was patient with the faults of others and believed no one was beyond redemption. As she reached her late 90’s she lamented the rapid passing of time. Yet she remained certain that her life belonged to God and that she was destined for eternal life.

Mary is survived by her sister, Pauline, and her sons Steven (Sara) Hailey, ID; Mark (Christina) Seattle, WA; Peter (Dawn) San Diego, CA; David (Kimberly) Mercer Island, WA; James (Pamela) Hobart, Australia and Daniel, Seattle, WA. She had fifteen grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held on December 13th, 2025 at 2 PM at the Encounter Church (previously Island Covenant Church). Address: 3200 78th Ave East, Mercer Island, WA 98040

Gifts can be made to Agros International (agros.org) or Free Wheelchair Mission (freewheelchairmission.org)