Margery Traulsen Ness, age 87 of San de Fuca, passed away peacefully on Aug. 15 in Bellingham.

She was born on Dec. 25, 1927, in Arlington, Wash., to Fred and Theresa Traulsen.

Margery, the second of four children, lived in Arlington until moving to Bellingham, where she attended Western Washington State College and earned her degree in education. She met Clarence Ness at Western, and they were married in 1947.

After graduating, she and Clarence moved first to Benge and later Ritzville, where they taught school for many years and raised their two children. In 1965, Margery and Clarence moved to Kwajalein in the Marshall Islands, and in 1967 they settled on Whidbey Island. Margery taught at Coupeville Elementary School for several years until her retirement. When Clarence passed away in 2013, Margery moved to Bellingham to be close to her daughter. She lived there until her death.

Margery loved being a teacher, especially teaching children to read. She enjoyed reading and lively conversation with her many friends, and was always interested in current affairs and the world around her. She and Clarence traveled extensively in the U.S. and in Europe. She also suffered from Multiple Sclerosis for many years and was active in the Whidbey M.S. support group.

She is survived by her children, Laurie Starr (and husband Stan) of Bellingham and Dave Ness (and wife Karen) of Winthrop; her grandchildren, Adam Starr of Seattle, Betsy Starr of Everett, and Brita Ness of Winthrop; great-granddaughter Lucy Starr; and brother, Jerry Traulsen of Everett.