Obituary of Mary Dawson

Beloved wife, mother and grandmother, Mary (Orfield) Dawson went home to be with her Savior, Jesus Christ, on Friday night, Nov. 8, after suffering a heart attack at her home in Puyallup.

Mary is survived by her husband of 34 years, Nick, by daughters Jenae Daniels (Ben) of Jakarta, Indonesia, Hayley Grapenthin (Adam) of Sumner, Wash., Lyndee Berz (Brandon) of Orange, Calif., and Noelle Dawson of Puyallup, four granddaughters and one grandson, and brothers Wally Orfield (Patty), John Orfield and Mark Orfield (Lisa), all of the Minneapolis area.

Mary Lucretia Orfield was born Feb. 17, 1958, in Minneapolis, Minn., to Wallace and Lucretia Orfield. She was raised in Edina, Minn., and graduated from Edina High School in 1976. After spending two years at Golden Valley Lutheran College, Mary graduated from the University of Minnesota in 1980 with a degree in textiles, clothing and design.

She joined Campus Crusade for Christ and moved to San Bernardino, Calif., serving in several roles including employing her gifts as an event organizer for the Headquarters Ministry Office. At that time, she met her husband, Nick. In the intervening years they moved to Puyallup, Wash., where they raised their four daughters.

Mary loved Jesus and was an active member at Summit Christian Fellowship, which she and her family attended for the past 25 years. She was always among the first to provide a warm welcome to newcomers to the church. One of her great passions and joys was her involvement with ManeStage Theatre Company. She loved to attend ManeStage shows and served that community theater by organizing the distribution of promotional fliers and cards to businesses throughout the South Sound. She often would tell “poster stories,” sharing about the connections she made with individuals and businesses.

Her greatest passion was her family, and a regular and happy part of her week included spending many hours with her five grandchildren. Mary, a homeschool mom, took great joy in seeing her daughters grow to be godly, talented women. She was especially proud of Jenae’s gifting as a teacher, Hayley’s tender heart as a mother, Lyndee’s pursuit of a nursing career, and Noelle’s regular appearances on the ManeStage Theatre stage, including her lead role in the Diary of Anne Frank. Mary delighted in family time, beating her husband and daughters at card games, and she could regularly be found watching a Hallmark movie. She was most content with the simple things of life and being with her family.

All those who knew and loved this kind and wonderful woman are invited to attend a Celebration of Life honoring Mary, which is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 24, at Puyallup Nazarene Church.