The Mirror lost one of its own when longtime employee Mary Lou Goss lost her battle with cancer on Sunday.

Mary Lou was a kindred soul. She had a singular wit and was universally loved by all that she met.

As her employer, I was fortunate to have her as a part of this team. She was that rare employee who would do anything for the company that was asked.

Mary Lou started in advertising, and eventually moved to the front desk as the office manager. In between, she filled in for me when I had vacancies in other departments without missing a beat.

Perhaps more importantly, though, she made me a better person. Mary Lou saw life and its layers with a different filter than I do. As our short seven years together progressed, I relied on her to show me and teach me what she saw. She did this with grace and kindness, even though I asked a ton of questions and likely got on her last nerve. A number of these teachings are still in existence today and were incorporated into our manner of daily business.

The Mirror and the Federal Way community lost a great member this last weekend, but her legacy will live on at the Mirror in several ways.

Mary Lou will always be with us in spirit and there will be a daily physical reminder of her presence as I am renaming the conference room the Goss conference room.

Additionally, her name will be carried in the Mirror roster in perpetuity as a member of this team. These are small things that I can do to remind all who enter the office that Mary Lou’s spirit lives on. We will never extinguish this spirit.

“Cancer you do suck

Like a thief in the deep night

You stole Mary Lou”

Go in peace, Mary Lou. At the tender age of 57.

Rudi Alcott is publisher of The Mirror.