Colleen Moynahan McLean completed her rich, creative life Saturday, Nov. 8, 2014.
Born in Ketchikan, Alaska, Dec. 28, 1929, to Agnes Moynahan and Lt. Commander J. Phillip Moynahan USCC, Colleen and her family spent her early years moving from base to base across the United States, returning to Everett, Wash., in 1943. She attended Holy Angels Academy, where her artistic talents were recognized by Sr. Edwina, who recommended her to Cornish Academy of Art after her graduation in 1947.
Colleen was accepted to Cornish and completed a year of study. Discouraged from returning for her second year by a faculty member who suggested that although she showed great promise she would “most likely get married, have a family and quit painting,” Colleen discontinued her formal art studies but continued to paint.
She married Donald A. “Mac” McLean in August 1950 at Blessed Sacrament Church in Seattle. They had nine children, although two died in infancy, between 1951 and 1962. Throughout this very busy time, Colleen continued to paint and draw, taking workshops and seminars as time and children allowed. She returned to Cornish in 1969 and renewed her focus on art, and over the next 35 years, she developed as a strong painter and portrait artist.
She and Mac moved to the Oregon coast in 1980 when Mac retired and Colleen became a founding member of the Casbah Artist Group, participating in group shows and exhibits as recently as August 2014. During her 25 years on the Oregon coast, Colleen was also active in the Newport arts community, designing and building costumes for many theater and dance productions, and completed two artist in residence positions at the Sitka Art and Ecology Institute in Neskowin, Ore.
The Casbah Art group presented a 50-year Retrospective Art Exhibition of Colleen’s work in 1996 at The Newport Fine Arts Center. Just prior to this event, Colleen was diagnosed with Macular Degeneration, and although her vision gradually declined, she continued to paint until her move to Portland in 2005.
In 2009, she settled on Whidbey Island with her daughter and completed her life at Fairhaven Adult Family home, where she passed away peacefully Nov. 8, 2014. Colleen loved being surrounded by family and cherished the creative process. She was happiest creating art in the company of those she loved.
Colleen is survived by her seven children, Mendy McLean-Stone, Bruce McLean, Martin McLean, Molly McLean, Kate Vasquez, Jenny Macc and Megan Hyde; 11 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. She is pre-deceased by her children, Andrew and Shebonne McLean; husband, “Mac” McLean; and brother, Pat Moynahan.
Colleen requested no formal funeral services be conducted. Cremation was held with private family inurnment to follow. Please visit Colleen’s page in the Book of Memories at www.wall
infuneralhome.com to share memories and condolences. Arrangements are entrusted to Wallin Funeral Home & Cremation, LLC. Oak Harbor, Wash.
