Mary E Staff

SALEM – Mary E. Staff, age 91, went to be with her Lord and Savior on Saturday, January 28, 2023. She was born to parents, John and Allie VanderWerf on August 1, 1931, in Holland Michigan. Mary spent her childhood years growing up in Holland. She had one sister, Shirley Van Asselt.

After graduating from High School and working for a short period of time there, Mary and her long-time best friend, Barb, moved to California. They joined a church and youth group there and the person picking them up to take them to the youth group was a boy named Harold “Bud” Staff. He was to become the love of her life. They raised 2 children together, Jennifer and Jeffrey, and were married for 63 years until Bud’s death in 2017. Her friend Barb met and married Bud’s best friend Ken. The four of them took many trips together and enjoyed a life-long friendship. She had many friends from school days, who she stayed in touch with over the years through letters and phone calls.

Mary was employed by the Salem-Keizer School District for many years, working with children with special needs. She loved these kids and was loved in return.

In 2006, Mary and Bud moved to Sublimity, Oregon, where they quickly became a treasured part of the Marian Estates Community. While there, they volunteered for five years for Meals on Wheels and enjoyed delivering meals in the Sublimity and Stayton areas.

Both Mary and Bud attended Court Street Christian Church in Salem since 1974. They served in several ministries together and Mary was active in women’s Ministries, retreats and many seminars.

Mary is survived by her daughter Jennifer, Grandchildren Anthony Gonzalez, Sara Guzman, Emily Gonzalez, Jessi Bennett, Martin Gonzalez, Isaac Coria, Maria Elena Coria and 11 great-grandchildren.

Mary was preceded in death by her husband, Bud Staff, son Jeffrey L. Staff, her parents and sister Shirley.

Services to celebrate Mary’s life will be held on Friday, February 10, 2023, at 2:00 P.M. at Court Street Christian Church, 1699 Court St. N.E., Salem, OR 97301. Mary has asked that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Court Street Christian Church at the address above in her memory.

Assisting is Virgil T. Golden Funeral Service.