Mary Agnes Carroll

Mary A. Carroll, 96, was born to a farmer (Francis Lorensen) and a housewife (Agnes Lorensen) in Norfolk, Nebraska on July 3, 1924, died January 10, 2021. Her mother died when she was 9 years old. On July 29, 1937, Mary wrote in her diary: “My chicken tried to outrun the Buick the other day and we had it for dinner.” She had a horse named Prince that she loved and rode everywhere. Mary graduated from Pilger High School at age 17 and then went off to the big city of Chicago to attend secretarial school. She met her husband Tom in Southern California where he was attending UCLA after returning from WW11. They moved to Washington and Mary got a job in the steno pool in Olympia where she met Governor Rossellini and Senator Dore. The couple had two children: Josephine and John.

They moved to Seattle where she started her career as a legal secretary. She later returned to school to become a paralegal. In the early 70’s, the state of Washington decided to tax child support. Mary, along with her sister and their kids, took up the cause to protect these critical funds through protests and letter-writing, and they successfully got the tax removed. Through her connections in the legal community, and her willingness to knock on doors, reach out to newspapers, radio, and television, Mary started her “real” career as an advocate for battered women and others victimized by our criminal and judicial system. Mary founded “The Northwest Battered Women’s Legal Defense Coalition.” The coalition, with the support of groups like the Paul Allen Foundation and individuals like attorneys Cynthia K. Gillespie and John Henry Brown, was able to get several women commuted sentences and released from prison. The coalition got SHB 1343 passed which allowed a judge to consider abuse when sentencing. They also waged an investigation that went on for years to get the Washington State Appellate Court to grant a retrial and eventual acquittal of a woman wrongly convicted and serving a life sentence. Mary was a true seeker of justice.

Mary liked to travel and often while visiting a new town, she would spend time in the Court House and the Catholic Church. She was also known to sit on a barstool and get to know the patrons of the local Public House. She loved to explore the beaches and the mountains of the Northwest, and when she had the opportunity to tag along with her grandkids, she loved to watch them kitesurf, surf, or wakeboard.

As the family matriarch, she had a few “you will attend” MAC events. Bicycle Sundays were one of her favorite summer gatherings, “up the tree party” was her special Christmas custom. Mary is survived by her son, John Carroll, her half-sister, Laura Franchini, her half-brother, Chris Lorensen, and her niece, Mary Jones. Her daughter, Jo, preceded her in death several years ago.

In lieu of flowers, please honor Mary with a donation to Mary’s Place. (mary’splaceseattle.org) or checks can be mailed to Mary’s Place, PO Box 1711, Seattle, WA. 98111

Mary’s Place Mission: Mary’s Place provides safe, inclusive shelter and services that support women, children, and families on their journey out of homelessness.