Mary Lee Gross

Mary Lee Gross, nee Pettibone, age 84, passed away on February 28th, 2025. She was preceded by her brother George Pettibone, who passed away in 1972, and her husband Warren who we just lost in July. She is missed dearly by her family; her children Eric and Mary Catherine, their spouses Gloria and Joshua, and her grandchildren Aria and Liam.

Mary Lee was born in Snohomish, Washington, on August 30th, 1940. She grew up helping on her family’s small farm then attended Whitman College, where she met Warren. They got to sample life in California, Rhode Island and Florida while Warren completed his Naval training and commission. They returned to the northwest, where they had two children, then proceeded to move their family to Tokyo, Seattle, Dallas, and Spokane before finally arriving on Bainbridge Island.

Both she and Warren had deeply adventurous spirits, and they relished opportunities to explore and learn. They traveled fearlessly, giving their children the gift of experiencing different cultures. She had a passion for gardening and loved tennis and long evenings of cards with friends and family. Also a lover of the arts, she regularly volunteered with arts organizations everywhere she went. She was also an avid reader and loved spending time with her friends in book club groups.

She was a loving, giving, and kind person with a wicked sense of humor who loved to host gatherings with good friends. She was also patient and generous with her time. As a long-time caregiver for her husband Warren, she belonged to multiple groups of family caregivers on Bainbridge Island, where she formed friendships and deep bonds as well.

Her children are grateful to have been with her on the night of her passing and are deeply thankful to the staff at St. Michael’s and the Bainbridge Island EMTs who cared for both her and Warren with great kindness. A service will be held at noon on Friday, April 18th at Bainbridge Performing Arts Center.

Arrangements entrusted to Cook Family Funeral Home of Bainbridge Island, WA