A prolific and well-loved author, Molly Cone has penned numerous children’s and young adults’ books, travel articles, educational materials, and a history of the Jews in Washington State. Born in 1918 in Tacoma to Latvian emigrants, Molly Cone grew up in a close-knit family steeped in Jewish traditions. In high school, she edited the school paper, made her first writing sale—a sales letter for a local business college—and, in her senior year, met Gerald (Jerry) Cone, older brother of her brother Floyd's best friend. After graduation, Molly attended the University of Washington and worked at various jobs, mostly writing advertising copy. She and Jerry Cone married on September 9, 1939; their oldest daughter, Susan, was born in 1941, followed by son Gary (1946) and daughter Ellen (1956).  They moved to Seattle, where they raised their family and became founding members of Temple Beth Am, a reform synagogue in Northeast Seattle. She worked various writing jobs during the war. When her husband returned from service, they started a business producing direct-mail pieces, later expanding into a general printing firm. Her first stories were published in children's magazines, and her first book, Only Jane, was published in 1960. Throughout her career, she published over forty children's books. The New York Times selected "Mishmash," the first in her series of seven books about a far too friendly dog, as one of the 100 best children's books. Her book "Come Back, Salmon" garnered eight awards. As a writer, Molly’s narrative often focuses on human communication; both talking and silence organize the ways we think about the world and each other. Jerry and Molly were enthusiastic travelers.  Molly passed away on March 23, 2016.