Mary Irene Malloy Reed passed away Sunday, Aug. 10 at Careage of Whidbey.

She lost a very hard- fought battle to several medical problems over the past several years.

Mary (or Irene as everyone knew her) was born number nine in a family of 13 in Appleton, Ark., Aug. 2, 1936.

Irene was living with an older sister and her family in Sunflower, Kan., so she could attend high school when she met the man of her dreams on a blind date set up by her niece.

In a whirlwind romance with Stanley R. Reed, they were married just 3 1/2 months later, a beautiful marriage that lasted until Irene went to be with the lord nearly 59 years later.

Irene and Stan had two children, Stanley E. Reed (Denise) and Anita L. Reed (Theresa), both of Oak Harbor; two grandchildren, Brandon (Sara) of Coupeville and Nathan of Wittman, Ariz; and two great-grandchildren, Sage and Logan of Coupeville.

Having been a 20-year Navy wife as well as from a very large family, Irene leaves behind three brothers, five sisters, their families and many, many great friends from all over our great country.

Irene was an excellent homemaker and enjoyed cooking and family. She always had goodies ready, and her grandsons knew they could always go to grandmas for a snack or a meal.

At Irene’s request, no funeral/memorial services will be held, and in lieu of flowers, kindly make a donation to the diabetes or heart fund, and maybe we can beat these terrible diseases sometime in the future.