Feb. 16, 1935 – July 20, 2014
Mary Munean Hisel Jarvis, 79, of Bend died July 20, 2014 at Hospice House of acute age-related causes, after a long battle with Alzheimer’s and a brief stint with cancer.
Mary was born Feb. 16, 1935 in LaFarge, Wis., the fifth child of Linley Hisel and Esther Hisel. The family moved to Portland in 1942. She graduated from Parkrose High School and was a proud alum of Linfield College (BA 1956) and after children were raised, completed another of her goals by obtaining her master’s from Oregon State University in 1983.
She had a bucket list before that was popular. She married Lyle Jarvis April 3, 1955, in Parkrose Congregational Church and together they had five children. She was an active member of the Presbyterian Church in each of the communities they lived. Mary lived her faith by volunteering in a variety of areas.
Some examples are: taking in foster children while raising her own children, volunteering with counseling of sexually abused girls in Linn/Benton county, working and helping after Katrina in Louisiana and Mississippi, Sheldon Jackson College in Sitka, Alaska, Presbyterian church in Warm Springs.
Until recent years she was active in PFLAG which had a very special place in her heart. She was an active participant in the formation of the J Bar J Boys Ranch. In addition to these activities, she was an amazing artist/craft person. She enjoyed painting, card making, calligraphy and using natural materials (leaves, flowers, weeds) to create lovely art projects.
She was especially fond of tatting, a lost art. She made beautiful lace which she included in her cards and projects. She was happy to share her many talents with others, both by teaching and by the giving of her gifts.
She is survived by her husband, Lyle; children, Brad (Barb), Laurie, Mark (Cindy), Brian (Terese) and Kent (Judy); nine grandchildren, Dallas, Michelle, Caitlin, Tanner, Marci, Courtney, Ashley, Annie and Lyle; three great-grandchildren, Avery, Emily, and Dallas; and numerous nieces and nephews whom she loved without reservation.
A Celebration of Life will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 2 at First Presbyterian Church, Bend, located on NE 9th St. In lieu of flowers, you may make a donation to Hospice House, a children’s charity of your choice or First Presbyterian Church (Bend) to support children and missions.