Maureen Catherine Cramton was born in Saginaw, MI on January 6, 1941 to Kenneth Gerard Cramton and Marie Christine Dobshinsky. She died at home on March 10, 2014, surrounded by family. She spent her early years in Michigan; her family then moved to Northern California and she graduated from College of the Holy Names. She married Paul Monahan on August 3, 1963. They spent their early married years in Omaha, NE, Palo Alto, CA, Alamo, TX, and Mercer Island, WA until moving their family to Toppenish in 1971. When her children were older, she returned to teaching and children's mental health day treatment, after receiving her Masters degree from Heritage College. As a friend once said, surveying Maureen's dining room table, "There's everything here to save the world." The table was filled with pamphlets from children's organizations, Maureen's paperwork for starting the Toppenish School District's breakfast program, literature from environmental groups and much more. That was Maureen's signature all of her adult life, trying to leave the world a better place. She had an enormous capacity for compassion, particularly for victims of social injustice. Her accomplishments for the Lower Valley were recognized in 2008 when she received the Yakima Herald's One World, One Valley award. Children were her great love, particularly her grandchildren. She also had a knack for welcoming and including new people into her community, taking them under her wing. In her heyday, Maureen could sing the lyrics of every Broadway tune, as well as every strange song ever written, much to her family's chagrin. How much was that doggy in the window? Was the dog's tail waggity or waggily? Maureen is survived by Paul with whom she celebrated 50 years of marriage in August, 2013; her children Sarah (Joe Sales), Peter (Jen Collins), Brendan (Aileen), Rachael, and Mary (Duff DeWitt), her nine grandchildren, Paul, Patrick, and Johnny Sales, Ian Monahan, Molly and Fiona Monahan, Mateo Monahan, and Delaeny and Declan DeWitt. She is also survived by her brother Gary Cramton (Jean), dear cousins, nieces and nephews, and countless wonderful friends. She battled and lived with Multiple Myeloma for 20+ years thanks to the intelligent, clever, and flexible care orchestrated by Dr. Thomas Boyd and sensitively implemented by the wonderful staff and volunteers at North Star Cancer Center. Drs. Julie Ricking, Neil Barg, and Marjorie Henderson and others made the last two decades possible. In her difficult week of hospice care and the weeks before conceding to Myeloma, she was overwhelmed by the tender and intense expressions of love and affection from family and friends from near and far. During this difficult time, despite her suffering, she experienced extraordinary, wonderful and intensely happy moments. How we will miss her. We loved her so. A part of us died with her, a part of her lives on with us. It is time to celebrate. Celebrate! Happy St. Patrick's Day. A memorial celebration will take place on March 17th at 1 pm at the 4th Avenue Theater. If desired, donations in her memory may be made to the Friends of the Buena Library, 801 Buena Way, Buena, WA 98921.