I couldn’t believe it when a mutual friend called about Mary on Tuesday, December 1st. I had an email from her the previous Saturday and while very ill, she sounded positive about her future. This friend and I have called, texted, cried, reminisced, and expressed how important Mary was in our lives. My best description of Mary is admired friend and challenging mentor. We shared a love of textiles and crafts. I always felt she challenged me and all of her friends to be better and do better, to set goals and make active plans to achieve those goals. One of the last things that Mary mentioned to me in September was that she wished she had done more for women. She was still setting goals that are now up to us to achieve in her honor.
—Judy Mortenson