Maria Bosch (also known as Mari) unexpectedly passed away in her sleep on Saturday, August 16, 2020 at the age of 74 in Beaverton Hills, OR. She had recently been diagnosed with dementia and moved into a senior living community only one week before her passing. For those that knew Mari, this was fitting in many ways. She never wanted to be a burden to others. She insisted on doing things her way. She was proud of being self sufficient.

Mari was born on April 6, 1946 to Obdulia Caridad Merino and Angel Bosch. While her birthplace is unclear, she was a proud Catalonian through and through and it was central to her sense of self. She recalled early years living in Barcelona with her grandmother and time with her family in Cuba. She told many stories of boarding schools and disdain for the Catholic nuns that scolded her. She mentioned her family had ties with the Batistas and when Castro took over Cuba, her family escaped to the United States.

Mari went to high school in Coral Gables, Fla. before eventually moving to Southern California. She attended University of Southern California and met Ralph Dewaine King, with whom she married and had two children: Elyse Marie King and Jason Ralph King. After a brief time in Los Gatos, CA the young family moved to Bellevue, Washington where she stayed for a couple decades.

If there's one thing that's certain in this world, it's that she loved her family with everything she had. She brought so much joy and enthusiasm to raising her kids, partly because she refused to grow up herself. She was always filling the room with laughter and silliness and love, and offering words to live by such as " you have to take the good with the bad" and "it's all a matter of perspective."

Mari was known for being the biggest cheerleader of her kids. She never missed one of Elyse's and Jason's sporting events or dance recitals. Nobody could miss her shouting encouragement at the top of her lungs. It didn't matter what the score was or if she was annoying the opposing team, there was no way you were going to silence her. Whatever she loved, she loved ferociously. 

Mari loved exercise and the outdoors, and especially things that combined those two such as snow skiing, water skiing, tennis and biking. Wherever she lived, Mari had a roster of favorite hikes. She loved long hikes, always cajoling whoever she was with to go further and never seeming to be tired herself. She seemed to gain energy from the simple fact of being surrounded by nature.

After the divorce, Mari found herself suddenly thrust into the role of a single working mother. She took that on with characteristic determination and grit, working long hours at Microsoft to make ends meet while putting her two kids through college. 

Once her tenure at Microsoft ended, Mari moved to Orange County (CA) to be closer to her kids after they settled in the area after college. She loved the sunshine and year-round outdoor activities that the area provided, often spending days hiking and enjoying the beach around the Montage resort in Laguna Beach.

Mari became a grandmother when Keller Warren King was born in 2011, and she quickly followed when her son's family moved to Portland, Ore. She briefly lived with Jason and Yvonne King while finding an apartment, and these are really special times that the family will forever remember fondly. Mari was always eager to play with her grandson and give the new parents a break. 

Mari become a grandmother two more times with the birth of Davis Holden King in 2014 and Sawyer Grace King in 2017. She was always ready for a whacky dance party or ready to listen for untold hours to the intricate details of their latest Lego creation. Her grandkids knew that "Abu" (short for grandma in Spanish) was a kindred spirit, full of silliness and laughter and joy. 

Mari continued to find joy in her groups of friends at the gym, library, bocce court, book clubs and concerts. Not being able to see these friends during quarantine was particularly hard on her. She never stayed home. She was always looking for friends and activities, and these things lifted her spirit. 

And that undeniable spirit of Mari's was something that those who knew her will never forget. We will miss her forever, but take solace knowing that we can forever reach her in the ethereal wind blowing through the trees, perfect symmetry of a beautiful piece of music, and the physical joy of a full-throated laugh.

Mari was beloved by her family and is survived by her daughter Elyse King of Richmond, CA; son Jason King of Portland, OR; son-in-law Patrick Nyberg; daughter-in-law Yvonne King; grandchildren Keller, Davis and Sawyer King; brother Jose Bosch, and niece Michelle Bosch. She will be deeply missed by her family, friends and all who knew her.

A celebration of life is being postponed until after COVID. Her family will gather privately to remember her and scatter her ashes. In lieu of flowers, the family asks for a donation to be made in Mari's name to her favorite charity St. Judes Children's Hospital, an organization Mari had made monthly contributions to for years.