Mary Frances Nebel

Mary Frances Nebel passed away on December 26, 2025, after a brief illness, at Swedish Hospital in Seattle, Washington.
Mary was born and raised in Arlington, Washington, to Eleanor and Samuel Nebel, one of six children. She shared in family sing-alongs on road trips, around the campfire ~ and just about anywhere.
Family vacations were almost always centered around car camping and mountaineering adventures, either backpacking or skiing. As a result, Mary developed a lifelong passion for singing, music, and outdoor adventures. Among her siblings, her gentle kindness always served as a calming influence. Her dedication to and love for family were unparalleled.
Mary graduated from Arlington High School and then attended the Univer-sity of Washington. Following in her mother’s footsteps, she graduated with a degree in nursing and then worked at the University of Washington Hospital in Obstetrics before becoming a public health nurse. Because of her generous, kind and nurturing personality, this was perhaps the path she was born to follow. Parenthood was another. After practicing on her youngest sibling, giving birth to her beloved daughter, Tracy, was a dream come true ~ and one that eclipsed all else in life, except perhaps becoming a grandmother. Mary loved and was devoted to Tracy and her husband, Bill. She adored her Grandsons, Quinn and Riley.
After retiring, Mary spent many years RV-ing with her friends, and snow-birding at Superstition Mountain Resort in Arizona. She celebrated and was a proud member of the Rainbow Community.
Mary’s nurturing kindness and unflagging loyalty will be deeply missed by those of us who relied on it. She is survived by her daughter, Tracy and husband, Bill; grandsons, Quinn and Riley; siblings, Sam, Stephen, Elizabeth, Sally, and Veta. She is also survived by Karen Walters and Lorie Dwinell, both former partners and forever friends.
A celebration of life will be held in her honor this Spring.