Mary Gass, 82, died on March 29 at Highlands Nursing Home in Tacoma.

She was born on Dec. 5, 1925 in Buffalo, N.Y., to James Edward Smith and Kathleen Lennon. She graduated from high school in Buffalo and later married William Edward Gass in 1945 in Georgia.

In 1947, the couple moved to California, where she worked at a bank. In 1950, she began working with Hughes Aircraft and even flew with Howard Hughes.

Mary moved to Bainbridge Island in 1985 and then to Suquamish in 1995. She was an active member of the Bainbridge Island Senior Center.

She is survived by her two daughters, JoAnn Gass and Sandra Walters of Suquamish along with 6 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.

The memorial service will be private. Memorial contributions can be made to the American Cancer Society.

An online guest book is at www.cookfamilyfuneralhome.com.