Margaret Eveline Maas, 89, lifelong resident of Portland, Ore., passed away on Dec. 30, 2024. She had been in and out of the hospital since June 2024, until entering hospice care on December 23. She was born Feb. 17, 1935 to Ian Stanley Shaw, Sr. of Sheffield, England, and Margaret Helen Bartlett of Vancouver, Wash., where the couple were married before settling in Portland, Ore., to raise their family. Margaret had many fond memories of growing up in the Westmoreland neighborhood where she attended Llewellyn Elementary School. In 1953 she graduated from Cleveland High School, as one of their earliest cheerleaders, before attending University of Oregon. Soon she’d be introduced to her future husband, David Maas, a student at Oregon State University. They married in 1955, and Margaret worked at Consolidated Freight Lines to help with finances while David finished his education. In 1957 they welcomed their first child, Todd, and by then David had joined the U.S. Army. Their only tour was to Germany, where daughter Elizabeth was born in 1958. There, they were able to travel throughout Europe and made a trip to Russia. Upon their return to Portland, David began his long career in dentistry at the Portland VA Hospital. The birth of Catherine in 1964 completed their family. Margaret led an active life. Early on she was a Girl Scout, grew up with dogs, and spent a lot of time outdoors. As an adult, Margaret was an avid tennis player, eventually becoming team captain of the local U.S. Tennis Association (USTA) women’s league at Mountain Park Tennis Club. She enjoyed skiing, hiking, cultivating her garden and her many friendships within the Cedar Hills community and beyond. She was old school--typical of The Greatest Generation, still polishing her leather shoes and getting them resoled into her 80s. Margaret enjoyed both classical and jazz music, and at one point volunteered her time with the Metropolitan Youth Symphony. A devoted mother, grandmother, and passionate dog lover, Margaret was a voracious reader, kept a close eye on current events, and enjoyed listening to college football or a Blazers game on the radio while working a needlepoint project or knitting anything from socks to sweaters--scores of them! There’d be something sweet baking, “for the boys,” she’d say. Her garden, where she’d work as hard as any man, was her cherished refuge. Fiercely independent, Margaret had an eagerness and zest for life, and demonstrated a genuine love for what she was doing and what she believed in. Margaret is survived by her son, Todd Maas (Melissa), of Lake Oswego; daughter Catherine Pearson (Wade) of Seattle, Wash.; granddaughter, Sophia Du Val (James Korin) of Spokane, Wash.; grandson, Michael Du Val of Portland; brother Ian Shaw, Jr. (Anita) of Milwaukie; and many nieces and nephews. Margaret was preceded in death by her husband of 41 years, Col., David Henry Maas, DMD, US Army Reserve; their eldest daughter, Elizabeth Anne Maas; and parents, Ian Stanley Shaw, Sr., and Margaret Helen Shaw. A Celebration of Life will be held on her (90th) birthday, Monday Feb. 17, 2025 at 11 a.m., at Finley-Sunset Hills Mortuary 6801 SW Sunset Highway Portland, Ore., 97225. Light luncheon following. Remains will be laid to rest Feb. 18, 2025 in a private ceremony at Willamette National Cemetery the following day.
In lieu of flowers or for those desiring, memorial contributions may be made to:
Wounded Warrior Project https://www. woundedwarriorproject.org/ donate
The Alzheimer’s Association https://act.alz.org/site/ Donation
Oregon Humane Society https://www.oregonhumane.org
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