Mary C Branda

Mary's story begins shortly before her birth in the small town of Cochran, Oregon. Her father, Carl was working as a logger and his wife Irene was living in the logging camp with him. On the first of August, one of the infamous Tillamook Burn fires broke out and Irene was safely evacuated by train to Portland while her husband stayed and fought the fire. Less than a month later, Irene gave birth to Mary. A short five months later, Mary's father was killed in a logging accident.

Being an only child, Mary grew up close to her mother and developed a fiercely independent personality. She considered her cousins Ethel and Beverly her sisters and grew up having lots of adventures with them on their grandparent's farm in Washington. She talked about helping her grandmother feed the chickens, helping grandpa milk the cows, stealing a taste from grandma's sauerkraut crock and later on, sneaking behind the barn for a smoke.

Mary graduated from Lincoln High in Portland, alongside friends Pat and Sue, whom she had known since grade school. They remained friends until her death. Mary valued friends and family a great deal and made an effort to stay in contact with those people dear to her.

Mary came to Forest Grove with a friend to get her hair cut and met Donald Branda. They hit it off, though Don was a bit of a playboy and a little hesitant to settle down. A dear friend told him he'd better not let her go and he wisely took her advice. Don and Mary were married on May 15, 1955 and soon settled in Forest Grove.

Daughter Cindy was born in November the following year and Mary was happy to report that Don got up for her first feeding at home that night, letting Mary get some much needed rest. Son Blair, followed in November three years later, providing Don with a fishing partner. Santa brought another gift the following year when Holly was born on Christmas Day, but not before Mary got all her gifts opened.

After the kids were enrolled in school, Mary went to work for the school district as a playground aide. With her whistle in hand, she kept everyone in line. Later she took an office position as secretary and ran the school as “Mother Mary”. One look with her raised eyebrow and you knew she meant business. She had a wicked sense of humor and delighted in making people laugh. In the years following her retirement, she continued to refer to all of the students as “her kids”.

Mary had great fun with her girlfriends on their bowling league. They dressed to the nines for their banquets, put on skits and laughed a lot. Later she joined the service organization Beta Sigma Phi and remained a member for over 50 years. She traveled to Europe with Don when the Forest Grove Gleemen and Girls represented the US at the Salzburg Music Festival. She also enjoyed the camping they did while the kids were growing up and for many years following. Mary loved to create and was a gifted seamstress and knitter. She taught classes when they Wintered in Arizona. She was also an avid reader of romance novels.

Mary was preceded in death by Don in November 2018. She continued to have many health problems but never lost her sunny outlook or fighting spirit. She wore her stubbornness like a badge and it got her through many challenges. She just naturally thought she would live forever if she was determined enough. She really only accepted her mortality a day before her death but embraced it with the peace and grace she had always shown. Her love for her family, her friends and “her kids” is her legacy.