Mary Wilber Obituary

Mary Anna Taylor Wilber, 83, passed away peacefully on August 9, 2025 in Oregon City, Oregon.

To those who knew and loved her, she was Mary Ann, Marian, Mom and Nana.

Mary Ann was born on Christmas Day 1941 in Portland, Oregon to Howard and Olga Taylor.

With two deaf parents and her brother George, she grew up in a very quiet – yet loving – household in Southeast Portland. She was bilingual, learning American Sign Language from an early age. She attended Richmond Elementary School and Franklin High School with her lifelong best friend and eventual sister-in-law Patsy Wahlstrom Wilber.

Mary Ann graduated from high school in 1959 and then attended Portland State University where she received a degree in elementary education.

After college, Mary Ann became a first grade teacher and married Jack Kemp. She and Jack lived in Southeast Portland and had two daughters, Kari and Kristi. While the girls attended Duniway Elementary, Mary Ann served as PTA President. Later, she became heavily involved with volunteering and fundraising at Parry Center for Children before working there full-time.

Mary Ann divorced Jack in 1977. The same year, she met George Wilber at Patsy and Bill Wilber's wedding in Cottage Grove. The two fell in love and maintained what she called a GU (Geographically Undesirable) relationship for four years before marrying in 1981.

Nine months and a few days later, their daughter Megan was born.

The family lived in Cottage Grove until 1990 when they moved to Burns and George went to work as a CPA with Oster Professional Group, CPAs.

A city girl at heart, it took Mary Ann some time to get settled in Harney County, but she soon grew to love small town rural life, and she rekindled her love of teaching. As a substitute teacher, Mary Ann was known as "The Licorice Lady" as she always brought a tub of Red Vines to share with her students.

Mary Ann's biggest passion was cooking and entertaining. No party was too big or too small. Deviled eggs were her signature dish.

She was also active in the Harney County CattleWomen, Holy Family Catholic Church, a Red Hat group who met regularly and Supper Club.

She had a sharp wit – and sometimes a sharp tongue – but was a soft-hearted, gracious person all the way until the end.

Mary Ann is survived by her husband of 44 years, George Wilber of Burns; her daughters Kari (Grant) Moore of McKinney, Texas, Kristi (Dan) Rice of Lake Oswego and Megan (Anthony) Fuchs of Oregon City; her eight grandchildren: Cameron, Jake, Alex, Kellen, Zach, Samantha, Harrison and Logan; her brother George Taylor of Gresham – and last but not least – her best pal, Kally the dog.

A funeral mass will be held on August 23, 2025 at 11 a.m. at Holy Family Catholic Church, 678 North Egan Avenue in Burns. A reception will follow at 1 p.m. at The Pine Room, 543 West Monroe Street, Burns.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the education-oriented charity of your choice.

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