Thursday, October 1, 2026
Mary Agnes Ahern was born at home on the family farm in rural Moody County, South Dakota, on May 7, 1932. She was the fourth of 6 children born to Francis and Vangie Ahern. Mary attended the Durland country school and Egan High School, and was a cheerleader for all four years.
Working in the cafeteria while attending Northern State Teacher’s College, Mary met John William (Bill) Catey. Bill had returned to Northern after serving in the Army. He loved to dance and was Catholic – two things that were on the top of her list. They married on August 22, 1955, in Brookings, SD. Their honeymoon was spent moving to Marysville, Washington. Mary taught in South Dakota country schools for several years before getting married.
In Washington, she taught in both the Marysville and Edmonds school districts, pausing several years to raise her children. After her children were grown, Mary returned to college, attending Seattle University, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education.
She returned to teaching at St. Luke and St. Benedict Catholic Schools. Bill and Mary were devout Catholics and founding members of St. Thomas More Parish in Lynnwood. Mary taught CCD, was Parish Council Secretary, active in the Ladies Guild, Feed My Sheep ministry, and the Funeral Luncheon committee.
She attended several Bible studies, was active in Cursillo, and was an avid reader of spiritual literature – she only wished she could retain more of what she read! After teaching, Mary worked at The Bon, Mervyn’s, and Fred Meyer. She and Bill wintered in Arizona for a few years until the grandchildren started coming. She took trips to Ireland, the Holy Land, Italy, Lourdes, and Fatima, as well as some family cruises.
Both Mary and Bill kept family ties to their home towns in South Dakota by loading the kids in their station wagon most summers for a road trip ”home.” They continued to gather every other summer for over the past 30 years with Mary’s siblings and their families. She was able to attend the most recent reunion this past June in Minnesota
Mary loved being a mom, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She had wonderful friends with whom she played bridge, took painting classes, and was in a hiking group. Mary saved many of her memories with Creative Memories scrapbooking. She even wrote a book about her life and had it published – “Memories of a South Dakota Farm Girl.” She was a good cook, and made sure all her children could cook and do laundry.
Family, faith, and friends: Mary had it all. She lost her dance partner, Bill, last December after his long battle with Parkinson’s disease. She made many new friends at Quail Park Lynnwood, where she spent the last 11 months of her life.
Mary died October 22, surrounded by her children, daughter in law, grandson, and granddaughter. She is survived by her four children: Colleen, Cathleen Hokoda (Steve), Bill (Joanne), and Tom (Daudette); f grandchildren: Mary (Daniel Chavez), Elizabeth (Sam Hewitt), Emma Hokoda, Megan Flora (Alex) and Jacob; four great-grandchildren: Tacho Chavez, Harper Flora, Amelia, and Sebastian Hewitt; sister: Evangeline Henderson; sister-in-law: Margery Ahern, and many nieces and nephews.
A funeral Mass will be celebrated on Friday, November 28, at St. Thomas More Parish Lynnwood at 10:30 a.m., followed by lunch. There will be a family only burial at Holyrood Cemetery in Shoreline.
Memorials can be made to the St. Vincent de Paul chapter at St. Thomas More Lynnwood or the Michael J. Fox Foundation (Parkinson’s).
