Islander Nancy Reed Mish, who dedicated her life to education, died July 19, 2005. She was 72 years old.

She spent summers in Dockton as a child and moved to Tahlequah when she was 12 years old and lived there until her death.

She graduated from Vashon High School and Washington State University and was president of the Kappa Delta sorority.

She also was a Fullbright scholar and spent summer in Korea and Nepal in her youth.

Mrs. Mish also was a Peach Festival princess on Vashon.

She was a social worker and teacher on Vashon for 30 years. She worked at her alma mater, Vashon High School, and at McMurray Middle School. She enjoyed teaching Pacific Northwest history. Mrs. Mish also was a tennis and cheerleading coach and a yearbook adviser.

She was especially fond of the south end of Vashon where she was a pillar of the Tahlequah community. She was active in the Southend Community Club and held every office there.

She rowed around Vashon Island twice — once with her mother and later with her children and friends.

Mrs. Mish and her husband Bill owned and operated the William O. Mish Water Department.

She and Bill celebrated their 50th anniversary three weeks before she died.

They owned a cabin in Ashford at the foot of Mount Rainier and always had friends and students stay there on ski trips. They also had a time share in Cabo San Lucas and were always having friends visit.

Mrs. Mish was known for loving her animals, her students, history, traveling and combining teaching and traveling. She once visited Tahlequah, Okla., and taught students there about Vashon’s Tahlequah.

She was a volunteer at Granny’s Attic and the Vashon Community Care Center.

Survivors include her husband Bill, sons Dave Mish and Doug Mish, both of Vashon, and grandson Jesse Mish.

A celebration of her life was held at the Southend Community Club with sorority sisters, students, friends and co-workers sharing good memories of her.