Mary Margaret Richbourg, 90, passed away peacefully on Feb. 9, 2023, in Port Townsend, Washington. She was born on May 4, 1932, in Everett, Wash., to Mabel Morgan Plaskett and Jack Plaskett. Both her Morgan and Plaskett grandparents were early settlers of Snohomish County, farming as homesteaders.
Growing up, she lived in Port Ludlow, Everett and Tacoma, graduating from Stadium High School. She loved to attend parties and dances, as evidenced from many high school photos. She met her husband, Henry Morris “Rich” Richbourg, when he was stationed in Port Angeles with the Coast Guard. The couple married on Aug. 7,1953.
They lived in Port Angeles and Rich’s home state of South Carolina before Rich’s job as a log scaler brought them to Quilcene, where they settled and raised their five children. When her children were teenagers, Mary completed two years at Peninsula College and then went on to earn her teaching degree at Central Washington University by traveling to attend summer classes and then spending a year in Ellensburg to complete the program.
After graduating college, Mary was the Librarian and Home Economics teacher at the Quilcene School from 1972 until 1992. She attended the Quilcene First Presbyterian Church until she and Rich retired to Port Ludlow in 1996. Rich and Mary frequently traveled by Amtrak to visit family in South Carolina and Washington, D.C.. They also enjoyed spending time outdoors and camping in their trailer.
She is survived by her children Ann Michelson of Port Townsend, Meg Lance of Brier, Wash., Jack Richbourg of Moses Lake, Wash.; seven grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband; her daughter Amy Myers; her son Craig Richbourg; and her grandson Nicholas Michelson.
A memorial will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, April 1 at Quilcene First Presbyterian Church. In lieu of flowers, the family encourages donations to the Quilcene School Library. Donations may be either dropped off at the school office or mailed to Gena Lont, Director of Finance, Quilcene School District No. 48, PO Box 40, Quilcene, WA 98376. Checks may be made out to: Quilcene School District, with Mary Richbourg Memorial in the memo.
