— from Jan Koltun —
Mary Gibson Hatten, 88, died Dec.20, 2013 in Whatcom Hospice. A committal service will be held in late spring.
Born March 24, 1925 to Ed and Edna Gibson of Eastsound, she was graduated from Orcas Island High School in 1943 (see photo), in a ceremony in the old Odd Fellows Hall. She served in the Waves during World War II. She attended Northwestern University in Chicago and became a legal secretary for many years in Seattle.
Active in the civil rights movements of the 1960s, she provided clerical help for the March on Selma, with some threat to personal safety.
She married the late Barry Hatten, a labor attorney, and moved back to Orcas with him in 1987 to help manage North Beach Inn, her family’s business.
She leaves three nephews, Roger and Craig Gibson and Charles Seagrave, and a niece, JeanClare Rahe.
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Mary, I didn’t know you long but I always enjoyed our time together. I’ll see you where the stars shine bright.
What a beautiful photo. We are sorry for the loss of Mary. She led an interesting life. I appreciated her. I am glad I was able to attend her birthday celebration last summer. She was in fine form and she really enjoyed all the friends and family that came.
She is missed, as we often wrote each other nice little notes. She did an amazing embroidery for the historic ship quilt in 2009. Orcas Is. Historical Museum’s Journey Story quilt was my inspiration. I drew the picture and she did pointillism patterns of the three masted sailing ship “Wawona”. She said she once saw it anchored off West Sound with a deck load of lumber. Mary was passionate and very active in trying to save the ship over the years.
Thanks for posting her story. Denise Wilk
We live in an old farmhouse that Mary stayed in, with friends, as a child when her mother had surgery. I enjoyed talking with Mary and Sally about their years growing up on Orcas. We are losing too many “Island treasures” like these gals. Peace be with you Mary.
Yes, it was the Gilberts’ house. I believe Dorothy Gilbert is still alive; will check that with Madeline Haffey.
Further comment on Jean Wellington’s addition: I did check with Madeline, and Dorothy Gilbert is alive and living in Sequim! Jan
Saddens me to hear – she was very important to me during my early years growing up on Orcas in the late 1980’s-1990’s… One of my many “island grandmas”. I’ll miss making her laugh. May she rest in peace.
I knew Mary as a dear friend in later years. We spent many wonderful visits and she had many stories of old-time Island life, her late husband Barry, life in Seattle, and also her time in the Civil Rights Movement, the labor movement, and her interest and passion about human rights and cleaning up the environment for next generations. Mary was lively, warm, funny, and generous of heart. She never stopped being involved with, and informed about, the world around her, including her local community. I miss her a lot, as do many people who really knew her. She laughed often, her eyes sparkled with life and mischief. She was beautiful and had a gorgeous smile. She knew how to have fun. She was so intelligent, well-read, and sharp – a thinker who thought for herself, an avid reader. She did amazing needlepoint. There is so much more about her that I probably never knew. I enjoyed being with her so much. I hope that if there is some aferlife, she is raising a ruckus wherever she is, and making people laugh and smile. I hope that some day, some life, her dreams about what this world and humanity could be, will come true.
I have enjoyed reading these rememberences of Mary especially those of Sadie Bailey, bringing out the humor, fun and beauty that were Mary’s.
I grew up with Mary and felt priviledged that, although a few years older, she was my friend. She took me horseback riding and we sometimes met at the Madrona Club Library . She gave me a white piquet formal dress in high school that I will always remember. She remembered her friends. When my brother, Roy, was ill with cancer, she wrote often and sent books and gifts to California.
Mary was an activist wherever she was. Her frequent letters to the Sounder were a testimony to that. In Eastsound she picketed a high rise building. I have often said that many of us complain about things but Mary does something about it When she returned to the Island, she often said how fortunate she was to be here during retirement. She wrote wonderful letters full of island news and the signs of the coming season.
I will miss hearing from her very much.