Mary Elizabeth (Peterson) Pyles

Mary Elizabeth (Peterson) Pyles
April 29, 1943 -- October 14, 2016
Mary Pyles passed away at her home in Corvallis,Oregon, surrounded by family after a four year battle with breast cancer.

Born in Prineville, Oregon, to George and Betty Peterson, Mary attended school in Bend, Bly and Klamath Falls, where she graduated from Klamath Union High School. After marrying John Pyles in 1963, she graduated with a certificate in Bible from Multnomah School of the Bible just months before the birth of her first child, Joel, in 1964.  

After graduation, John and Mary interned and pastored churches in California, Nevada and Washington and had daughters Leah, Sarah and Rachel. In 1969, they settled in Klamath Falls, Oregon, where they lived until 1984. They pastored a church in Langell Valley, east of Klamath, until they moved to Corvallis in 1991.

All her life, Mary was passionate about children, especially teaching them basic principles of the Bible and faith in God. From leading backyard Bible clubs as a teenager, to raising her own four kids, to assisting in Christian kindergarten and classes for developmentally disabled students; Mary found her greatest joy investing in children. She taught Sunday School with various age groups through the years, but her real specialty was the students of the 2-5 year-olds’ classes. Children of all ages adored her creative crafts, song-stories, and loving limits.

Mary spent her life “adopting” just about everyone in her sphere of influence and loving them the way her Heavenly Father loved her. Attending and leading countless prayer meetings over the years, she loved to be in the presence of God, enjoying Him with others.

Sharing her love for music, Mary is well-known for pounding out rousing hymns and worship songs on her old upright piano. Over the years, she belonged to many choirs; the most recent, the Corvallis OK Chorale. She also delighted in growing flowers of all kinds, and her home is still surrounded by them.  

Mary’s heart for little ones lives on in her children, all of whom parent large families with many “adoptees,” and who have spent their lives nurturing and guiding youth. Her 38 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren were the light of her life and her pride and joy. Even in the last week of her life, she prayed day and night that her grandchildren would have genuine experiences with the Lord which would lead them to follow Him passionately. Filled with hope, she contended for each one’s divine calling, purpose, and destiny.
  
Mary is preceded in death by parents George and Betty Peterson, and is survived by her siblings Tom Peterson, Margaret Webb, and Ruth Nalle.

She is also survived by her husband, John, her children Joel and Becky Pyles, Leah and Tony DeVyldere, Sarah and Shan Ferrier, and Rachel and Henry Worcester, and by 38 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren.

A Celebration of Life Memorial service will be held at 11 AM on Saturday, November 5th at Renew Church, 1677 SW 35th St, Corvallis, OR 97339.
For more information or to bring food or flowers to share, call or text Leah at 541-905-7702.