Mary Marie Cronk Stevenson was born to Lena Jane Seger Cronk and Milton Delbert Cronk on May 1, 1920 in Colony, Oklahoma. Mary was the third child and eldest daughter of eight children. She was born in the same room as her mother and named after her grandmothers.

Mary lived with her grandparents, John and Mary Seger, during her early school years so she did not have to walk four miles to school from the Cronk farm. John Seger worked for the Bureau of Indian Affairs and started the first Indian School in Oklahoma. He was revered by the Indians. Mary loved her grandfather and spoke of him often. He would meet her after school and walk her to the small store in Colony where he bought her a penny's worth of candy. He then urged her to finish before they got home so her Aunt Bessie would not complain about ruining her dinner. John died just prior to Mary's eighth birthday.

Mary's youth was hard, as the oldest daughter she was the family babysitter while her mother did the farm and house work. The farm had no electricity, no running water and an outside toilet. During the dust bowl and depression her parents divorced and Mary's mother was left to raise eight children on her own. The family soon moved off the farm and into the Seger home in Colony. Mary picked cotton at harvest time as well as doing house work for people in Colony. She cared for her siblings when not working.

Mary completed school in Colony where she excelled on the basketball team. After high school she knew she needed to earn a living so she borrowed money from a family friend and enrolled in Hill's Business College in Oklahoma City where she learned secretarial work. She held various business jobs until World War II began. Her brother in San Diego urged her to come to work at Consolidated Aircraft. She decided to move and live with her brother while working. They soon decided to move to San Francisco and work for another aircraft company that repaired damaged airplanes. Mary did not like the job so she went back to Colony. She moved back to San Francisco with her sister, Connie, and a high school friend. They applied for work at Bethlehem Steel to build transport ships. They were asked to do secretarial work but wanted to work on the ships so they were placed in the plumbers group. An electrical foreman convinced them to transfer to the electricians group where they helped build several ships.

Mary met Harold Claude Stevenson (Steve) on one of the ships. Steve coached the ladies softball team so Mary and Connie joined the team. Steve and Mary were married on September 23, 1944. After the war ended they moved several times. Their first child, Sharon, was born while they lived in Portland. Five years later they settled in Douglas County where Steve began working in the mills. Their second child, Douglas, was born while they lived in Riddle. Eventually they purchased land in Tri-City and built their home. When Hanna opened Steve left the mills and went to work there.

Steve and Mary made many friends in the area. They enjoyed bowling, hunting, camping, fishing and family. Mary was also very involved in her flower and vegetable gardens and creating beautiful hand work. Steve joined the Tri-City Fire Department in 1956 and served until 1974. During this time he was Fire Chief for seven years and Mary was a tireless assistant. In the later years one of their greatest joys was when the children and grandchildren came to visit.

Steve passed in 1989 and Mary was left alone. She formed a new life, added friends and worked in her garden. In 1991 Mary moved into a new home with her daughter and son-in-law. It was very hard for her but she knew it would make things much easier. She soon grew accustomed tot he new environment and began to enjoy her freedom from daily chores while still continuing her clubs, crocheting, quilting and friendships. As she aged Mary's health began to fail and she had several falls requiring major surgery. Finally in 2009 she moved into assisted living. She resided at Ashley Manor for the past two years where she was loved and cared for. The staff was always responsive to her needs, always caring and attentive. Mary knew she was well cared for and liked her new home. She passed comfortably in her sleep on December 21, 2015.

Mary is survived by her daughter, Sharon Gaddis and husband Stephen, her son Douglas Stevenson, four grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren and her younger sister Lena Dell Shunkwiler as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

Funeral Services will be held on Monday, December 28, 2015 at 11:00 am at Taylor's Family Chapel in Winston, Oregon.  Interment will be at the Myrtle Creek IOOF Cemetery in Myrtle Creek, Oregon