The sun shines a bit dimmer for those who love Nancy Lannon McDonald. She passed away surrounded by loved ones on the evening of Dec. 30, 2017, after battling a rare bile duct cancer, which was diagnosed in June.

Nancy was born to adoring parents Edward and Katherine Lannon in North Platte, on June 16, 1939. She was the first of seven children and set the bar very high for the siblings to follow.

Her sunny, smiling personality drew people to her like bees to honey. She loved and was loved in return. Upon graduation from St. Patrick High School in 1957, she joined the U.S. Navy and served with distinction as a hospital corps wave. She was an honorary battalion commander and led her basic training class on graduation day.

She laughed later and said her years of dance classes in her youth helped her.

She met her beloved Robert “Mac” McDonald, her husband of 49 years, while serving in the U.S. Navy. They married in 1959 and their daughters, Katie and Kelly, soon followed and together they lived in California and Hawaii before settling in Port Angeles, Washington, after Mac retired from the U.S. Navy. The Pacific Northwest was a wonderful place to raise their children, and it was here that precious memories were made. Nancy used to say, “this is a memory maker,” when something particularly wonderful occurred.

She was one to see the beauty of life and embraced people and experiences in equal measure. Nancy graduated from Peninsula College in Port Angeles and had a long career working in the college library. She enjoyed the academic environment and books, so the library was a perfect combination of those two things. Nancy was a member of the Out to Lunch Bunch, a performing troupe that would enliven many a college party or function.

She had a multitude of friends and many would say that she was their best friend. Nancy was the kind of person who showed kindness, compassion and love. She had a megawatt smile and was gracious. She endeavored to do the right thing.

In her later years after the sorrow of losing her beloved Mac, Nancy found happiness again with Stan Eakin, her partner of six years. They traveled on cruises to the Caribbean, through the Panama Canal and north to Alaska. Nancy helped entwine his family with hers. She was the type of person to unite people. Life will not be the same for those who loved her. She will be mourned and missed so much.

She is survived by her daughters, Katie (Monty) Osborne and Kelly (Dirk) Gouge; grandchildren, Tyler Cannon, Justine (Kolby) Woodward, Connor and Carly Gouge; great-granddaughter Kallie Woodward; six siblings, Jane (Max) Monroe, Mary Lannon, Tom (Rae) Lannon, Bob Lannon, Annie (Brian) George and Jim (Nancy) Lannon.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Port Angeles Volunteer Hospice, an organization close to her heart.

A celebration of Nancy’s life is planned this summer.