Mary Margaret Black Sheehy, 83, a former Baker County resident, died May 13, 2001, at the Wallowa County Memorial Hospital in Enterprise after a long and courageous fight against cancer.
Her funeral was May 21 at the St. Katherine Catholic Church at Enterprise. Interment was at the Wallowa Cemetery.
Mrs. Sheehy was the eldest daughter of George Alfred and Hanorah Margaret Doherty “Nora” Black. She was born on June 9, 1917, at The Dalles.
In 1935, she graduated from high school at Paisley. After graduation from Eastern Oregon Normal School in La Grande, she began her teaching career in one-room schools in the Halfway and Durkee areas and taught at other elementary schools in Baker and Malheur counties for many years.
While teaching at Weatherby near Durkee, she met Tom Sheehy. They were married on Aug. 14, 1941, at St. Francis de Sales Cathedral in Baker City.
They had five children: Thomas, Mary Jane, Dennis, Hugh and Margaret Ann. The family ranched for many years in the Durkee, Ontario and Wallowa areas.
A person of very wide ranging talents, Mrs. Sheehy was a strong supporter of education, her community and the arts and crafts. In 1965, she obtained her bachelor’s degree in education from Eastern Oregon University.
She served on library boards in Baker and Wallowa counties and her efforts were instrumental in establishing library service for the Durkee area. She was a 4-H leader and a member of both the Durkee and Wallowa granges.
She was a member of Delta Kappa Gamma Sorority and the Wallowa County Retired Educators. With a deep love of music, she was always willing to quickly lift her voice in song at either a community event or her church.
Her love of music continues to inspire her family and friends. Her carefully handcrafted Christmas angels will always serve as a welcome reminder of both her talents and her view of life and will be treasured by many.
A member of St. Pius X Parish at Wallowa, she was a person of strong personal faith who followed her beliefs as her life’s guide. She worked tirelessly in support of her parish and was very active in religious education at both the parish and diocesan level. Her personal involvement was always important in her parish’s music ministry.
She is missed by all who knew her.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her sister, Grace Elizabeth; and an infant brother, George.
Survivors include her husband and children and her numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Wallowa Library or the Wallowa Memorial Hospital through the Bollman Funeral Home at Wallowa.
Used with permission from: The Baker City Herald, Baker City, Oregon, August 24, 2001
Transcribed by: Belva Ticknor