December 12, 1957 - July 11, 2009
Mary Ann Sanger Obituary
Mary Ann Sanger passed away peacefully on July 11, 2009 with her loved ones around her. Her hopeful and positive approach to life allowed her to live and teach others for 11 years after her initial diagnosis with cancer. Mary Ann is survived by her husband,
Ralph W. Thomas, her children, Ralph (Billie) Thomas, Mark (Linda) Thomas and Linda (Bill) Nelson, as well as many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and a great-great-grandchild. She is also survived by her loving mother, Gladys Gossett. Mary Ann was born December 12, 1957 to Everett and Gladys Sanger in Spokane, Washington. She was raised in Spokane, but she enjoyed annual family trips to Kootenay Lake and Portland, Oregon, and she also enjoyed many happy years at the family "farm" in Chattaroy, Washington. After graduating from Eastern Washington University, Mary Ann was hired to teach merchandising and retailing at Spokane Falls Community College, where she also chaired the Management Department. She was twice honored with the Burlington Northern Teaching Excellence Award and also received the Vocational Educators Excellence Award. Along with her dear colleague and close friend, Mickey McCormick, they took hundreds of students, faculty and friends on study trips to Seattle, New York, London, Rome, Paris, Hong Kong and Tokyo. Many years were spent with trips to Europe and Asia in the same year. Mary Ann also was honored to teach in the Gonzaga University School of Business for 10 years. She was a proud member of Toastmasters International for 18 years. Her husband of 32 years was the love of her life. Together they enjoyed driving trips, being active members of an antique car club and going to auction houses and antique shops. They loved to entertain and were happy participants in several dinner groups. Mary Ann was gifted with unflagging optimism, and took great joy in life. She felt especially fortunate to maintain relationships with many of her former students. Our family would like to commend and thank all of the wonderful caregivers that helped Mary Ann through her illness from beginning to the last moments of her life. Special thanks to Dr. Joni Nichols and Hospice. She will be missed by many, but the memory of her hope and optimism will live on. A Memorial Service will be held on Friday, July 17, 2009 at 2:00 pm at Heritage Funeral Chapel. A Reception will follow at Spokane Falls Community College. In lieu of flowers, contributions in memory of Mary Ann Sanger may be made to CCS Foundation (Community Colleges of Spokane), PO Box 6000 - MS 1005, Spokane, WA 99217-6000. If you have any questions, please call 434-5123. Please indicate that the gift should be applied to the Mary Ann Sanger Academic Work Scholarship in memory of Mary Ann Sanger.
Good night, sweet princess, and flights of angels sing thee to thy rest!
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