Mary Mccloskey Graham

Mary McCloskey Graham, 85, previously a resident of Salem, Oregon died on February 3, 2013.

Memorial services will be held at 11:00 am on February 9, 2013 at the Peace Lutheran Church; 1525 GlenCreek Rd NW in Salem, OR.

Interment will follow the memorial and will be held at the Cloverdale Cemetery; all are welcome to attend.

Family and friends are invited to a reception at 1:30 pm, following the burial, to be held at the Salem Heights Community Hall; 3505 Liberty Rd. S. Salem, OR.

Mary was born on February 24, 1927 in Eureka, CA. She was one of two children born to Ernest and Emily (Dupree) McCloskey. She was raised in Eureka and attended Eureka Senior high School graduating with the Class of 1945. She later attended Humboldt State College (University) in Arcata, CA.

She met her future husband, Wesley Charles Graham, while on a geology field trip in college. They soon began dating and were married on December 28, 1947 in Eureka, CA. Following their marriage they made their home in Berkley while Wesley finished his studies. In 1949 they moved to Crannell CA and then two years later moved to Arcata, CA. They made their home in Medford OR for ten years until 1968 when they moved to Portland, OR. Upon Wesley's retirement in 1975 they moved to Salem, OR. Wesley died on January 2, 1998 and Mary continued to live in Salem until 2011 when she moved to Hillsboro to be closer to her family.

Mary was a homemaker and was a devoted mother to her five children. While raising her children she was active in the PTA, Cub Scouts and Campfire Girls. She also volunteered at their Lutheran Church, Neighborhood Watch, SMART, and the Salvation Army Food Bank. She loved cooking, sewing, reading and gardening. Mary also was an avid bird watcher and enjoyed spending time with her family. When Wesley retired they became travelers and enjoyed traveling through the Southwest and into Canada and Alaska.

She is preceded in death by her loving husband, her parents and a grandson, Courtney Graham, who died in 2003.

She is survived by her five children and their spouses: Kathleen and Louis Jaffe of Portland, OR, Wesley and Theresa Graham of Milwaukie, OR, Lindsey Graham of Eugene, OR, Laurie Graham and her domestic partner, Susie Purcell, both of Eugene, OR, Belinda and Charlie Graham of Hillsboro, OR, Mary's sister Alice McCloskey Walker of Concord, CA, five grandchildren: Matthew, David, Clint, Maia and Rose, great granddaughter, Clair and many nieces and nephews.

The family suggests donations in Mary's name to Alzheimer's Association, Salvation Army, Audubon Society or charity of your choice.