Obituary

Margaret Ianne Gorsuch Moles, age 71, was freed to rest in the loving arms of our Savior on May Day, 2017. The daughter of Ted and Bernice Gorsuch in Ferndale, WA, she grew up in a vibrant, loving family consisting of 5 brothers and a sister. Margaret remained closely devoted to her siblings and extended family throughout her lifetime. Family reunions and time spent together were cherished beyond measure. Her greatest joy and life’s calling was as a mother and grandmother. The love she expressed for her children and grandchildren was unconditional and imprinted on their character. Generations to come will be blessed. Margaret was a gifted lay-minister and was visionary in her ability to see the needs of those who were overlooked. Her humility, thoughtfulness and opened-minded approach to ministry touched people from all walks of life. A generous smile and warm conversation indeed were her hallmarks. With a witty-humored twinkle in her eye she was “clothed with strength and dignity; she laughed at the days to come.” Margaret was an educator and scholar, holding a bachelor’s degree in biology, a teaching credential from Western Washington University, and a Master of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary. In her spare time, she loved long walks filled with lively conversation, time spent with family at Birch Bay, and all things Scandinavian in accord with her Norwegian heritage. She was an avid reader, writer and learner who loved sharing her ideas on building life-giving communities of faith. Margaret was faithful, courageous, long suffering, and intelligent, remembered for her beautiful singing voice and hilarious sense of humor. Her laugh was contagious. Perhaps one of Margaret’s own reflections captures her philosophy best, “The perils of easy solutions and sentimental ideas haunt me. I believe we need, as a community of faith, to come together in those reflective times provided by waiting, to study, question, discover and formulate judgements about how to live out our faith. Through the work of the Spirit, I believe such preparation provides hope that we can indeed go forth as God’s people in service and love of our neighbors, proclaiming the Good News of salvation through Jesus Christ.”

She is survived by her daughter, Suzanne and husband James Stratford; son, John and wife, Anathea; grandchildren Johännah, Carolyn, Avah, Isabelle, Owen, Suzanne, Lillian, John, Theodore, Winston, and Hosännah; sister, Miriam; brothers Harvey, Gary, Charlie, Doug, and Kurt; and numerous other relatives and friends.

Services will be held on Friday, May 5, 2017. Funeral Mass at 9:00 a.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Bellingham. Visitation at 2:00 p.m. at Moles Farewell Tributes – Greenacres, 5700 Northwest Dr. Ferndale. Graveside Service at 3:00 p.m. at Greenacres Memorial Park. Celebration of Life and Reception at 4:00 p.m. at Moles Farewell Tributes – Ferndale, 2039 Main St. Ferndale.