The Irwin and Morrison families mourn the loss of a beloved wife, sister, stepmother and aunt. Monica Irwin, of Kent, died on March 29, 2009, at Swedish Hospital after a brief illness. She was born on May 1, 1944, in Norman, Okla., to Sam and Barbara Morrison and was raised in Seattle and Mercer Island, where she graduated from Mercer Island High School in 1962. She attended Central Washington State College and joined PNA Airlines as a flight attendant in 1965. PNA later merged with Western Airlines, where she met and married her captain husband, Jim Irwin, in 1969. They made their home in Foster City, Calif., where she was a member of the Junior Assistance League of San Mateo. In 1983, they moved to Meridian Valley Country Club in Kent. She was a longtime member of Meridian Valley Country Club and the Woodland Park Zoo.

Mrs. Irwin’s passion was all animals, especially cats. She was known to feed, befriend, capture, neuter and adopt out feral cats. Some decided to adopt her, especially if they were sick or old, and wanted to become indoor kitties, much to the chagrin of her indoor cats. She also loved traveling the world with her husband of 39 years, Christmas, Kauai, her friends at Curves, local craft fairs and slot machines. Her gorgeous red hair made her always memorable.

Survivors include her husband, Jim Irwin; two sisters, Anne Forck, of Woodinville, and Suzanne Carlson (Jim), of Sammamish; four stepchildren, Kathleen Harvey (Tom), of Alabama, Margaret Griglione (Jim), Suzanne Robertson (Bill) and Tom Irwin (Kristen), all from Iowa; special aunt to Josh Maloof (Kira), of Kirkland, Monica Buck (Joe) of Seattle, and Krista Butler (Jason), of Galveston, Texas; 12 grandchildren and two Ragdoll kitties.

A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. on April 18 at the Mercer Island Presbyterian Church, 3605 84th Ave. S.E., with a reception following. Remembrances are suggested to the Humane Society.

Friends are invited to share memories and sign the family’s online guestbook at www.flintofts.com.