She is survived by her husband Theodore, along with their four children: Theodore St. Mars Jr., Christine King, and John St. Mars, all of Vancouver, and Katherine Stupey of Portland, and a brother, Vincent Keller, of Vancouver. She is also survived by nine grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, and many dear friends. She was preceded in death by her mother, Amy (Myers) and her father, Vincent John Keller; a sister, Rose Worthington; and brothers Daniel Keller and Patrick Keller. She loved to tell stories about dancing with her father and enjoying her mother’s fantastic cooking.
Ted and Mary Ann became high-school sweethearts in 1958 at Yakima Central Catholic High School. They graduated in June 1961 and married 59 years ago, in July, the first couple from their class to marry.
As an Air Force wife, Mary Ann lived with her husband and children in many places including Colorado, Idaho, Alaska, Georgia, and England. When Ted retired in 1984, they settled in Portland, then moved to Vancouver, and eventually ended up on the shores of the Lewis River in Woodland.
Mary Ann worked in credit unions and retail stores most of her life, most recently as a retail-store manager in Woodland, from which she retired.
She brightened the lives of others, friends and strangers alike. Mary Ann spread love and warmth wherever she went, and she has created wonderful memories with her loved ones.
During Mary Ann’s illness, Ted attended the Hope Dementia Support Group in Battle Ground, where a program was named for his wife. “Hope,” which provides dolls and lifelike pets to dementia patients and those with certain other medical conditions, named their program, “Mary Ann’s Babies.” These dolls and pets provide comfort, engagement, and improved quality of life. From the moment Mary Ann received her own baby doll, you could see that, although her memory had faded, her love, nurturing, and maternal instinct had not. Mary Ann’s baby added much comfort to her final months. To support this worthwhile program that did so much for Mary Ann, you may make memorial donations to “Mary Ann’s Babies, Hope Support Group,” at HopeDementiaSupport.org/donate/. There is always HOPE.
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