Mary F. Horn

Mary Frances Horn, 74, passed away with her family by her side at Lutheran Hospice on October 30th, 2019. Born in Olympia Washington, she was the daughter of Robert and Frances Barnett. A bright student, she graduated from Lewiston High School in 1964. She then went on to earn her Bachelor of Arts in music education from the University of Idaho in 1967. There, she was a member of Delta Gamma sorority and participated in the university glee-club; the Vandaleers. In 1979, she was awarded a Master's of Arts in Education Leadership from the University of Western Michigan. In her professional life, Mary took pride in helping others. Her formative years found her working alongside the Sisters of Saint Joseph at Saint Joseph Hospital in Lewiston, Idaho. After graduating from college, Mary found her calling in teaching. She dedicated 30-years of her life to enriching the lives of her students through music education. Mary lived life to its fullest and enjoyed many passions. First among these, was singing and performing music. She was gifted musician who began performing on stage at the age of 10, was a member of the all Idaho chorus, and played the clarinet and the piano. Her special talent was folk singing accompanying herself on the guitar. She’ll also be remembered as a person who navigated life with a strong sense of humor, independence, and curiosity. These traits led her to proudly pilot her own motorcycle through the streets of Denver in the early 70’s, sail the notoriously dangerous Alenuihaha Channel – the water between Maui and the Big Island, and tour the continent of Africa from Cape Town to Cairo. Most of all, Mary loved people. From the kids she taught at school, to the person working behind the counter at the local gas station; she never met a stranger. She treated everybody like a friend no matter their station in life. Her beaming smile and genuine engagement exuded a type of charisma that drew people in. She truly cherished her network of friends and they in turn loved her. Mary is survived by her son Robert, her daughter in-law Michelle, her sister Susan Marthens, and her brothers John Marthens and Chris Weisgerber.