Mrs. Durkan is a former executive editor of the Ballard News-Tribune passed away on Feb. 23 from cancer.

Durkan was born on Sept. 8, 1924 and graduated from Queen Anne High School in 1942. She attended the University of Washington in 1947, majoring in English. At the university, she was the president of the Kappa Alpha Theta sorority.

Her obituary describes how she drove a jitney on the waterfront during the World War II. After being turned down for the job because she was a girl, Durkan refused to take no for an answer and was soon driving, bringing some of her girl friends along with her.

Like many young people, Durkan wanted to see the world and joined the United States Special Services, where she was assigned a two-year stint in Germany.

She married her college sweetheart after returning to Seattle in 1951. Her husband, Martin J. Durkan, described as a "charming Irishman," was later elected to the Washington State House of Representatives and the Washington State Senate.

Martin Durkan was described by the Seattle Times as a "political giant, when he passed away at the age of 81 in 2005. Martin Durkan was a former chairman of the Washington State Senate Ways and Means Committee and one of the state's most powerful lobbyists.

"She supported him in all his political work and was perhaps the better politician," according to the obituary. Durkan's warm smile proved to be an asset on her husband's campaigns for office.

Durkan has taught at St. Louise Parish in Bellevue and worked at the Martin Luther King Daycare Center. She has volunteered with numerous charities.

With her English degree, Durkan edited the Ballard News-Tribune and became known for her opinionated editorials.

Durkan was known for her passion of a good party with dancing. Her other love was traveling and the sea.

The Durkan's lived on Maui in their retirement years. In recent year's Durkan lived at Horizon House.

Durkan is survived by children: Kathleen; Martin; Ryan; Jenny; Matt; Timothy; and Megan. Her grandchildren are: Jamie; Danny; Taryn; Colman; James; and Tegan.

She is also survived by sister Doris Liming, along with dozens of nieces and nephews and her "second family" of friends from Luana Kai and others around the world.

Husband Martin, sisters Connie Hall and Arlene Olsen and David Grant (whom she called her son) preceded her in death.

Remembrances can be made to Gonzaga University or Seattle University. Durkan is buried at Tahoma National Cemetery.