Mae I. Nerison was born to Charles (of John and Margaret Hanson) and Marie (of Haaver and Ingebjorg Twange) Hanson of Inwood, Iowa on Feb. 23, 1920. The only girl in a family of five brothers, she was a cherished sister and daughter.

The family moved to California in 1936, where Mae renewed her acquaintance with and married handsome family friend, Rex Nerison.

They embarked on a wonderfully adventurous life together that included sharing their house with some chickens in North Dakota, raising four kids in California, spending five years supporting Lutheran missionary work in Papua New Guinea, and having a furniture store on Whidbey Island, with lots of prayer, camping and good food and coffee all along the way.

Mae was renowned for her pies and impish sense of fun. Mae’s quiet kindness drew people to her like bees to honey wherever she went, including her last home near Port Townsend.

She was deeply grateful for God’s many blessings throughout her life, especially those of loving family and exceptionally good health. She was reunited with her Savior on Oct. 11, 2011 (her 71st wedding anniversary), following a diagnosis of lung cancer in May of this year.

Mae’s memory will be celebrated by brothers Arnold and Dale Hanson; children Steve (and Susan) Nerison, Patricia and Rebecca Nerison and Kristine Nerison Collins. Grandchildren include Eric (and Margaret) Nerison, Kimberly (and Philip) Petty, Sonja Diirell, Katrina (and Kristian) Bentsen, and Kyle and Mimosa Collins; great-grandchildren include Caleb, Zachary, Benjamin, Donavin and Margaret Mae Nerison, Jerome and Kiki Petty, Miah and Austin Diirell, and Anja Bentsen; and numerous “adopted” sons and daughters.

A memorial will be held at 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 22 at Grace Lutheran Church in Port Townsend (after the Skandia Fest). Memorials should be made to the nonprofit of your choice.