PORTLAND, Ore. MaryAnne B. LaFave (nee Tennant), 66, of Ocean Park, fortified with the sacraments of Holy Mother Church, passed away June 29, 2011, at Oregon Health and Science University Hospital in Portland.

She was born to John and Alexandra Tennant on Aug. 8, 1944, in Longview. She graduated from Kelso High School in 1962 and received her Bachelor of Arts degree in education from Western Washington State College in 1967.

Mrs. LaFave spent 20 years as an educator, 17 of them in rural Alaska, prior to retiring to southwest Washington. Here she spent her later years visiting friends and family; making quilts and crafts; cheering on the Seattle Mariners, Seahawks and Portland Trailblazers; and volunteering at the World Kite Museum and her local church. She will be greatly missed by her many friends and family members, and will be remembered for her kindness, hospitality and patience, especially by the children, now grown to adulthood, whose lives she touched in Alaska.

An educator of young children, she spent nearly her entire career teaching kindergarten, first and second grade. Though Mrs. LaFave had four children of her own, it always seemed that she had one or two extra, as there was a steady stream of children, young people, and former students who came to visit, came to dinner, and accompanied her family when they traveled. Many of those people attended her memorial service to pay tribute to her kind and generous nature and the impact she had on their lives.

She is survived by Glen, her husband of 43 years; four children, Patrick (Elaine) LaFave of St. Louis, Mo., Douglas (Brandi) LaFave of Marysville, Brian (Crystal) LaFave of Vancouver, and Margaret (Jeffery) Collins of Lake Tapps; siblings, John Tennant and JoAnne Mullenix of Longview, and David Tennant of Toledo; eight grandchildren, Emily, Travis, Alex, Brittney, Ashley, Connor, Ryan and Abby; and numerous nieces and nephews. Her parents and her brothers preceded her in death.

A memorial service was held on July 5 at St. Marys Catholic Church in Seaview. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the World Kite Museum and Hall of Fame, 303 Sid Snyder Drive, Long Beach, WA 98631.