FILE: Molly Coston during a city council meeting while serving as mayor of Washougal on Jan. 14, 2020.
Michele Loftus
City officials announced the death of longtime Washougal elected official and public servant, Molly Coston on Wednesday.
No details were released about the cause of Coston’s death. She was 77 years old.
Coston’s work played a central role in the growth and civic identity of Washougal for nearly two decades, according to the city.
Most recently she served as a city councilor. Her time in public service also included four years as mayor of the Southwest Washington city from 2018 to 2021. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she delivered video updates to Washougal residents, discussing changes in health and government. Her current term as city councilor was set to expire in December 2027.
When David Scott started as Washougal’s first city manager, he took over leadership duties from Coston.
“During that transition, she was so full of grace, so helpful to me, so supportive of me. I will never forget that,” Scott said.
Over the years, he said, people routinely looked to Coston when leadership roles opened.
“And so, she would become the chair of this or the president of that,” he said. “I would joke with her, ‘Molly, you need to quit raising your hand.’ And she would say ‘I know!’”
Coston brought commitment, fairness and passion to her work, according to current Washougal Mayor David Stuebe.
“Many people called her ‘Mayor Molly’ because she was approachable and took the time to truly listen and be truly engaged,” said Stuebe, who is also a Republican state lawmaker. “Her leadership influenced the direction of our city, and we are so grateful for her service,” he said in a statement.
Coston was active in civic life in Washougal, which sits along the Columbia River, for decades. She was a member of the local Rotary Club for 25 years, including as president. She was also president of the board for the Washougal Arts and Culture Alliance, president of the Clark County League of Women’s Voters, and recently, chair of the Clark County transit board, C-TRAN.
“Molly was a calm and measured leader who loved her community dearly. Her leadership, compassion, and commitment to community will be remembered by all who had the privilege of working alongside her,” said Battle Ground Mayor Troy McCoy in a statement.
Originally from Greenwood, New York, Coston moved to Washougal in 2000. She was the oldest of seven children. Outside of government and volunteerism, Coston was an avid scuba diver and music fan, according to recent biographical information from the Washougal United Methodist Church, where she was a member.
According to the church, Coston had numerous jobs over the years, including owning a cross-country trucking company and co-owning a bar and restaurant called the Way Station in Tucson, Arizona. She worked in the telecommunications industry for three decades.
