Mary Lou Emma Lynch, or Lou as she was known by family and friends, was born in Clarksdale, Missouri on August 15, 1927.  She passed away peacefully on June 6, 2023, at Providence Mission Hospital in Mission Viejo, California.

Lou was born to Martin and Stella Karl and grew up on a farm with her parents and three sisters, Bernice, Katie, and Pat.  Lou survived all of her sisters and always appreciated her nieces and nephews from Missouri and surrounding states who stayed in touch and kept her in the loop on the local happenings.

In 1954 Lou traveled to San Diego, California with her friends Stan and Theresa Pawlowski and she was introduced to Jim Lynch.   After a short courtship, the two were married in San Diego and she became Mrs. James B. Lynch on July 17, 1954.

Lou's first job after high school was at a dairy doing bookkeeping for nine years before moving to San Diego.  In San Diego she worked at GMAC Finance, and she also worked at Burlington Northern Air Freight in her later years after her children were grown.

Lou's three children are James P. Lynch, Sharon Garcia, and Barbara Woo-Sam.  Her grandchildren are Benjamin Garcia, Olivia Garcia, John Altobelli, and Timothy Woo-Sam.  Lou was widowed in 2002, and she lost her eldest daughter Sharon in 2016.

Over the years Lou and Jim moved from San Diego to various cities in Orange County and finally to Palm Desert.  After Jim's passing, Lou moved to Laguna Woods until 2012 at which time she moved in with her daughter Sharon and family.   After Sharon's passing, Lou's son-in-law Bob graciously invited Lou to continue to live at their house with him and her grandchildren Ben and Olivia.

Lou was a dedicated housewife and took pride in the care of her home and of herself which was demonstrated by her fashionable style.  She enjoyed golf in her earlier years as well as traveling and was an avid reader especially of mysteries and thrillers.  She always held out hope that she would be a big winner with Publisher's Clearing House.  Lou liked most foods but her favorite food was Italian, and her best food memory was of her mom's fried chicken and angel food cake.

Lou enjoyed spending time with family and friends. She would say that her greatest achievement was her children and eventually her grandchildren.  Her advice to them was to live by the golden rule – "do unto others as you would have them do unto you."

Lou leaves behind her son Jim Lynch and daughter-in-law Liane Lynch; son-in-law Bob Garcia and grandchildren Ben Garcia and Olivia Garcia and family dog Beemer; and daughter Barbara Woo-Sam, son-in-law John Woo-Sam and grandchildren JJ Altobelli and Timmy Woo-Sam.

A memorial mass will be held on Monday, June 19, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Nicholas Catholic Church, 24252 El Toro Road, Laguna Woods, California.