Mary Cowan Sullivan
Feb. 14, 1917 - Nov. 8, 2012
Mary Cowan was born on Valentine's Day in Bisbee, Ariz., to James and Mary Kelly Cowan. After her father's death, the family, including brother Patrick, moved to Butte, Mont. Mary's mother became ill, so they were placed in an orphanage in Helena, Mont., until their uncle, John Kelly, adopted them.
Mary attended school in Butte, graduating from Girls Central High School.
She married John "Spike" Sullivan in Butte in 1936. Their first son, Ronald, was born in 1937. He preceded her in death in 2011. The family moved to Deer Lodge, Mont., where a second son, John, was born in 1938. They returned to Butte.
Mary's brother was killed in World War II.
In 1947, they moved to Deer Lodge, Mont., and in 1949, they purchased a ranch in Stevensville, Mont. In 1950, Mary's daughter, Patti, was born and in 1957 son Kelly was born. In 1966, they purchased a dairy ranch in Nehalem, living there until 1975. They moved to Salem. In 2002, they moved to Jefferson with daughter Patti, where they lived until Spike passed away in 2006. Mary moved to Timberwood Court in Albany, where she lived until her passing.
Mary was a wonderful, generous, kind hearted and loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She was a blessing to all who knew and loved her. She loved life and her family and will be missed by all.
She is survived by daughter-in-law Sue Sullivan; son John "Jack" and wife Linda; daughter Mary Pat "Patti" Ball and husband Frank; son Kelly; nine grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; and many other family and friends.
A funeral Mass will be at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 13, at St Mary's in Albany.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Jude in Mary's name.