Palmer Junction, Oregon
Mary Jo Bruce, 81, formerly of Hermiston died Tuesday at the home of her daughter in Palmer Junction. A graveside service will begin at 10 a.m. Friday Sept. 1 at the Hermiston Cemetery with a reception following at the First Christian Church on Highland Ave.
Mrs. Bruce was born June 1, 1925, to Patrick Donald and Mary Josephine Stubbs Quinn in Burwell, Neb. She married Owen Lee Bruce in Grand Junction, Colo. on Jan. 25, 1944, and graduated from high school in Ouray, Colo., the same year.
The couple came to Oregon in 1947 and lived in Hermiston and on the Oregon Coast. She moved to her daughter’s home three weeks ago.
She earned a nursing degree at Blue Mountain Community College at the age of 49, and retired from Good Shepherd Hospital in 1987.
She was a former member of the Women’s Civic League in Hermiston and MEOW, Machine Embroiderers of Oregon and Washington; and was a member of a sewing group at the First Christian Church, the Hospital Auxiliary, the American Legion Auxiliary. She enjoyed fishing, playing bingo, sewing, being with her family and machine embroidery.
Survivors include children and their spouses Donna and Bill Barnes of Palmer Junction, and Harold and Sarah Bruce of Hermiston; a brother, Harold Quinn of Pendleton; a sister-in-law Eva Quinn of Prosser, Wash.; 6 grandchildren 16 great-grandchildren and 7 great-great-grandchildren.
Her husband and two brothers,Gaylord and Ralph Quinn, died earlier. Memorials may be made to Walla Walla Veterans Hospital, Good Shepherd Hospital Auxiliary or any charity in care of Burns Mortuary of Hermiston.
The Observer Online, Obituaries for the week ending Sept. 2, 2006, Published: September 5, 2006