Mary Ann Ford, a longtime resident of Skagit Valley, passed away on Tuesday, March 1, 2016, at Skagit Valley Hospital.

She was born in Concrete at home on March 14, 1933, and grew up with her three brothers and two sisters in Concrete, Bellingham, Oak Harbor and Mount Vernon. Mary Ann graduated from Mount Vernon High School in 1951 and then started working for her father as a secretary for the Western Lime Company. She drove a beloved ’34 Chevy coupe named Pluto until it blew up speeding down a steep hill in the Nookachamps.

She married William Ford in 1955 and raised her three sons, Steve, Mark and Shannon while living in Lynnwood and Mount Vernon. She kept her boys busy with 4-H, sports and school activities. During these years, she worked in agriculture in the Skagit Valley. She retired from Cascadian Farms as a logistics coordinator located in Sedro Woolley in 2006.

Mary Ann was best known for her love of cooking. She dressed her table with fine linen, beautiful china, crystal goblets, silver flatware and always centered the table with fresh flowers and candles. The memorable meals that she would serve were always admired and much appreciated by her family, friends and guests. She studied cooking her whole life, attending cooking classes in San Francisco, Los Angeles and Europe. These classes included studies under the late Julia Childs. She made many dinners for charity purposes. Mary Ann owned and operated Marnies Deli, which was located on Burlington Boulevard, for five years.

Mary Ann and friends coordinated one of the original ski busses that picked up skiers from Bellingham to Everett and delivered them to Stevens Pass for a day of fun on the slopes. Her father joined her ski group at age 65.

She loved to play bridge. For many years, her close group of friends would gather monthly to play cards. The best month for all was the month that Mary Ann would host and serve the perfect lunch or dinner.

Mary Ann was a wonderful golfer, seamstress, knitter and quilter. She would usually have some kind of a project underway and the results were always perfection.

Mary Ann was loved deeply by her family and friends and will be forever missed. Our world will not be the same without her.

Mary Ann is survived by her sons and daughter-in-laws, Steve Ford (Jackie), Mark Ford (Debbie) and Shannon Ford; grandchildren, Brady Geerdes (Katie) and Shay Brock (Kevin); great-grandchildren, Kayla and Devon Whitney and Kolten Brock; brothers and sisters, Paul Koetje (Florence), Jack Koetje (Judy), Emerson Koetje, (Barbara), Gloria Camp (Merrill) and Tamara Conrad (Klint); as well as numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her father and mother, John and Mina Koetje; former husband, William (Bill) Ford; and nephew, Jay Koetje.

A graveside service for family, extended family and friends will be held at noon Saturday, March 12, at Maple Leaf Cemetery in Oak Harbor, followed by a celebration of life from 1:30-4 p.m. at Max Dales in Mount Vernon.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may go the Ovenell Home for their memorial fund, 625 Washington Ave. Burlington, WA 98233 or Hospice of the Northwest, 227 Freeway Drive, Suite A, Mount Vernon, WA 98273.

Arrangements are under the care of Kern Funeral Home.