Mary Alice (Kessi) Dodd, 78, of Albany died Saturday at Timberwood Court Memory Care in Albany.
Mary Alice was born in Corvallis, the eldest child of Delbert and Faith Kessi. She was raised in Alpine and Harlan and graduated from Canyonville Bible Academy, a Christian boarding high school in Canyonville. She earned her way through college operating a log loader and graduated with honors from Oregon State University with a bachelor's degree in business education.
Mary Alice taught high school in LaGrande and Albany. She worked for Professor Maser, dean of the school of business education at OSU as his secretary. She worked as bookkeeper for several businesses in Albany and served the OSU Extension Service, Linn County as office manager. Mary served as office manager and secretary to the senior pastor at Albany First Assembly until her retirement.
She loved her family and was a patient and hard-working wife, mother and homemaker. She enjoyed encouraging and teaching young people all her life, and spent years teaching Sunday school, Vacation Bible School and leading a sewing 4-H club. She was a member of Albany First Assembly of God church. She sang in the church choir, sewed garments for friends and family, and volunteered in countless other ways for the community.
Mary is survived by her husband of 51 years, Stanley A. Dodd, and children Merrilee Swanson and husband Bruce of Montesano, Wash., Jonathan Dodd and wife Kellie of Carson, Wash., Loralie Ahola and husband Paul of Vancouver, Wash., and Phillip Dodd and wife Anita of Albany. Her grandchildren are Michael Swanson of Albany, Katie Swanson of Montesano, Joshua, Kaleb and Kessie Dodd of Carson, Faith and Annalie Ahola of Vancouver, and Trevor, Brandon, Connor and Avery Dodd of Albany. She is survived also by her siblings, Ruth Coykendall and husband Ivan, David Kessi and wife Emily, RoseAnn Pearson and husband Anton, Olive Stobbe and husband Stan, and Don Kessi and wife Frieda.
Her parents and sister, Faith Kessi, preceded her in death.
A funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Friday, June 21, at Albany First Assembly of God church. A cookie reception will follow at the church for all who attend.
Contributions in her memory may be made to the missions fund at Albany First Assembly of God church in care of AAsum-Dufour Funeral Home.
AAsum-Dufour Funeral Home is handling arrangements ( www.aasum-dufour.com ).