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Gwenyth Jean Simmons Causin, 94, of Washington, passed away peacefully at her residence on Oct. 22, 2020.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Warren and Ruth Simmons; a son, Thomas Causin; and a sister, Jane Hill.

She is survived by her husband of 72 years, Robert G. Causin; three children, Cynthia Neale, Deborah McClallen and Robert “Buz” Causin; 11 grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren.

Gwen was raised in Olympia, Washington. She graduated from Olympia High School in 1943, and attended the College of Puget Sound, where she graduated in 1947 with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. While at CPS she was president of her sorority Alpha Beta Upsilon.

Gwen and Bob met while attending CPS and became engaged in 1947. They were married in 1948 and lived in Seattle while Bob finished his engineering degree at University of Washington. After Bob graduated, they decided to move to Olympia when Bob was asked to join Gwen’s father in the automobile business. Living close to their extended families, they raised their four children there, taking advantage of the best of Pacific Northwest living. Summer weekends at Gwen’s parents’ lake house, camping vacations on the Oregon coast, skiing at Mt. Rainer, beachcombing at the ocean, clam-digging at their property on Mud Bay, picnics and power boating with other families, was their way of life.

In 1965, Bob changed careers and went to work for Boeing. He joined the Saturn 5 Lunar Landing program which took the family to Huntsville, Alabama, and ultimately Washington, D.C. They lived in northern Virginia for two decades where their children would spend their high school years. During this time, Gwen worked for a family services agency, but she really enjoyed moonlighting as a travel agent. When Bob became interested in sailing, they joined the El Toro Association, sailing the eight-foot, one-man dinghies on the Tidal Basin in front of the Jefferson Memorial.

When Bob retired in 1987, they purchased “Rajah,” their 32-foot Endeavour sailboat. Looking for a retirement destination, Bob and Gwen found their new home at Pamlico Plantation, a boating-friendly community on the Pamlico River in Washington, North Carolina. Gwen was “first mate,” supply officer, chief cook and bottle washer, general manager, and “chief worrier” on many sailing trips with their wonderful new sailing friends at the plantation. Her family now had grown to include eight grandchildren, and the families would love coming down for swimming, sailing and watersports in North Carolina.

In 1990, Gwen and Bob purchased her parent’s condo in Olympia. They began spending summers there with their West Coast family and reconnecting with their numerous college friends. They vacationed in Hawaii, Mexico, Canada, did navigation races from Seattle to Anchorage, and enjoyed the Pacific Northwest of their childhood. From Washington, N.C. to Washington, D.C., to Washington state, Gwen always stayed connected with her family and friends, old and new.

Though not a thrill-seeker, Gwen followed and supported her husband and children on whatever adventures they wanted to attempt. From skiing and skin diving, to even zip-lining, she would not be left behind and did it all. Over the years, she belonged to several book clubs, garden clubs and was a long-standing member of P.E.O. She and Bob were always there for every high school and college graduation, wedding, birth of babies and other life events to lend support, love and encouragement. Somehow, she arranged holiday get-togethers with as many family members as possible. Lovingly known as “Mima” to her family, she was the mastermind/organizer of all family gatherings and will be deeply missed.

An informal gathering with the family will take place on Sunday, Nov. 1, 2020, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Pamlico Plantation Clubhouse.

The family requests donations be made in Gwen’s memory to the charity of one’s choice.

Services by Joseph B. Paul Jr. Washington Funeral & Cremation.