Mary Stevenson

Mary Charlotte Stevenson, 90

Born August 31, 1934, in Ft Dodge, Iowa to Dr. WW Stevenson and Mary Isabel Hollister.

She passed away peacefully in her sleep the evening of March 17, 2025, in Washougal, Washington after first celebrating St. Patrick's Day with her fellow residents of Good Shepherd Manor. She had her nails painted green for a whole month in anticipation of the occasion.

Mary spent her childhood growing up in Rockwell City, the second oldest of 4 children. It was during this time in Rockwell City that the family suffered the tragic loss of her brother, William H. Stevenson. He had fallen out of a window as a toddler. This occurred when her father was still deployed in Guam, in the Pacific, while in the Navy during WWII.

The family moved briefly to the Seattle area after her father's discharge from the Navy at the end of the war. From there, they traveled South in hopes of finding a climate that would help Mary's health issues. They ended up in Medford, Oregon.

It was there in Medford that she graduated in 1952 from St. Mary's High School. She and her sisters worked at the pear cannery in nearby Jacksonville during those younger years.

After High School, Mary would graduate from the University of Nevada. She worked as a Medical Technologist during her career until she retired.

Her love of travel led her to live and work in Switzerland; Melbourne, Australia; Oakland, California; Portland, Oregon; and finally, Reno, Nevada.

She moved to Vancouver, Washington around 1987.

In addition to traveling, Mary enjoyed cooking, hosting dinner parties, painting, working with clay, creating sculpture, and attending Symphonies. She was very active in her Catholic Faith. She was a parishioner many years at Holy Rosary Church, Portland, OR, Then more recent years at St. James Procathedral in Vancouver. She was also a member of the Portland Community of Secular Order of Discalced Carmelites (Province of St. Joseph).

Mary was preceded in death by her parents (WW & M. Isabel Stevenson), brother (William H.), and sisters (Martha Martin and Nancy Jacks). She is survived by 8 nephews and nieces; 15 grandnephews/nieces and 3 great nieces; and 5 cousins.

Carmelite Liturgy of the Dead will be held Thursday, April 24, at 09 AM, with a Rosary following at 0930 AM, and Funeral Mass at 10 AM at St. James Procathedral in Vancouver. There will be a reception following in the parish hall.

Arrangements by Hamilton-Mylan Funeral Home; Vancouver, Washington, and Laufersweiler's Palmer-Swank Funeral Home, Rockwell City, Iowa. Interment will be held at Rosehill Cemetery, Rockwell City, Iowa.