In Memoriam: Mary Verhoeven

May 7, 1946 - Feb. 25, 2010: Mary Caroline Verhoeven, 63, of Albany passed away on Thursday, Feb. 25, at Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center in Corvallis after battling advanced colon cancer for more than a year. She was at peace when she passed, surrounded by her husband, children, sister and close friend. Mary was born on May 7, 1946, in Columbus, Ohio, to Thomas and Jean Boulger. As the eldest of six children, she was frequently called on to look after her siblings on the farm outside of Chillicothe, Ohio, where they were raised

-An avid reader from an early age, Mary found pleasure in the written and spoken word. Sharing her father's aptitude, she committed many passages of prose and poetry to memory, and, with a little prompting, recited them throughout her life. She was an excellent student, and completed her parochial education as valedictorian of her class. She left high school with a keen sense of social justice and a determination to make a difference.

As a young adult, her independence carried her to such adventures as touring Europe by bicycle, traveling cross-country with her siblings and friends, and numerous hiking and camping trips, all the while cultivating her love of the outdoors. She graduated from Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., in 1968 with a degree in history.

After finishing college, Mary enlisted in the Peace Corps and served for two years in Karnataka, India. It was a formative time and an experience she would look back on and draw from throughout her life.

Upon returning, she chose to pursue a master's degree in plant breeding at Oregon State University, studying under Dr. Warren Kronstad in the wheat program. She went on to work for Warren, and remained with the department until she passed away. She worked with and touched the lives of countless graduate students, always eager to invite them over for a backyard potluck and genuine hospitality.

She spent many field seasons in Mexico, and over the years befriended international colleagues there and across the globe. Mary wed Thomas Alan Verhoeven in 1981. They had two children, Ben and Betsy, and worked hard to raise a close-knit, loving family.

Despite her siblings living scattered across the United States, they made it a point to regularly get together for Thanksgivings and family reunions, often at the family farm in Ohio. At every juncture, Mary made her family a priority. She was an active member of the parent-teacher club, local community organizations and the OSU community.

As a lifelong Roman Catholic, she regularly attended Mass at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Corvallis, and volunteered at Stone Soup each Friday. She was an avid quilter, and especially loved making baby quilts. Slow or downright impossible to anger, she had a constancy, generosity and patience that are beyond many of us. At every opportunity she gave, be it a gift, a seat at her table, or open ears and arms.

She loved the outdoors, and most of all loved sharing these experiences with others. Mary is survived by her husband, Thomas Verhoeven of Albany; her two children, Benjamin and Elizabeth, also of Albany; her mother, Jean Bougler of Chillicothe; and five siblings, Jim Boulger of Chillicothe, Grace-Ann Boulger of Corvallis, Katherine Ghadimi of Albuquerque, N.M., John Boulger of Chillicothe, and Bekah Boulger of Stockholm, Wis. Additionally she is survived by two cousins; 18 nieces and nephews; and countless close friends.

A funeral Mass will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, March 3, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Corvallis, and a reception will follow. A visitation will take place from 4 to 7 p.m. today with a Rosary vigil at 6 p.m., also at St. Mary's. She will be buried at Oaklawn Cemetery in Corvallis.

Funeral arrangements were made by McHenry Funeral Home. Memorial donations may be sent to the American Cancer Society or Stone Soup of Corvallis. Posted in Obituaries on Tuesday, March 2, 2010. - 25 February 2010