Florence Irene Dean

Obituary Florence Irene Dean Florence passed away February 26, 2014 after suffering a stroke. She was born on December 4, 1923 in Fairfax, Minn. She grew up on the family farm with five siblings. While attending Business College in St. Paul, she met Gordon Dean. They were married in 1946 and moved to Omaha, Nebraska, where she worked as a legal secretary at a bank and law firm. Florence was the mother of three sons: Gregory was born in Omaha while Gordon attended medical school; Stephen was born in Tacoma, Washington, during Gordon's internship, and Mark was born in San Antonio, Texas, while Gordon was in the Air Force and doing his residency in anesthesiology. The family moved to Redding, California, before settling in Tacoma in 1962. Florence reveled in her role as mother and wife. She drew tremendous enjoyment from her many friendships and social activities - she played golf into her late 80s and loved playing bridge - and she pursued such interests as sewing and needlepoint, snow skiing, painting, gardening and reading at a voracious pace. She was a member of St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, Catholic Woman's Club, Lemon's Beach Orthopedic Guild and Fircrest Golf Club. Florence was beloved, in part, for her gracious ways, steadfastness and resourceful equanimity. She is survived by her brother, Marshall (Evelyn); her sons, Greg (Linda) and Mark; and grandchildren, Natalie, Chase, Aaron, Alan and Madeline. Florence asked that memorials be made in her honor to the American Cancer Society, PO Box 22718, Oklahoma City, OK 73123-1718. Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Monday, March 3, 2014 at 11:00am at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church. Interment at Calvary Cemetery. Please leave online condolences at www.gaffneycares.com. Arrangements by Gaffney Funeral Home, 253-572-6003.