‘Passionate until the end.’ Longtime Richland school board member dies

Mary Guay cared deeply about children and the Richland School District.

Even after leaving the Richland School Board, she would arrive early to the meetings and find a seat where she could greet everyone who came in.

She would chat with school leaders, other residents and even strangers who were attending their first school board meeting.

Guay, one of the school district’s biggest advocates, died Monday at Royal Columbian Senior Living in Kennewick at the age of 93.

“She was herself until the last day. She never lost that energy or that interest in other people,” said Ty Beaver, the Richland School District’s communication manager. “We were so fortunate that she was part of our community. ... Her service to our district was a huge gift.”

Guay, who came to the Tri-Cities in 1959, served on the board in six different decades from 1967-71, 1981-84, 1997-2001 and then coming back in 2004 to a position she would stay in until 2015.

She was one of the first women elected to a school board, said Richland School Board President Rick Jansons, who served with her on the board.

“She was a great woman, a passionate advocate for students, and she was a proud Republican, but did not care whether you were a Republican, Democrat or Independent as long as you were pro-student,” he said.

The last term saw the passage of a $98 million bond that led to the district building its fourth middle school, Leona Libby, as well as several other construction projects.

A true extrovert, Guay had connections in Richland and Olympia, Jansons said. Whenever the district had issues, she knew who to talk to and where to go. Locally, she knew many people in Richland as well, and was able to bring a range of viewpoints to the board.

“I’ve seen her express her strong opinions to at least three different governors and three different state superintendents,” Jansons said.

Guay, who had five children who all graduated from Richland schools, was a member of the League of Women Voters and the Richland Education Foundation.

“I’m always out doing something about schools,” Guay told the Herald in 2011. “It’s my whole life — I don’t do other things these days.”

Even after the leaving the board, Guay remained involved. She continued to stay in touch with people from the school district and find ways to help.

Jansons said he talked her a week and a half ago, and she was talking to him about the school board.

“She was passionate right up to the end,” he said. “I’m going to miss her.”

Life Tributes Cremation Center in Kennewick is handling her funeral arrangements.