Mary Florence McRory Lewis

A private memorial and celebration of life will be held at a later time for longtime former Gardnerville resident Mary Florence McRory Lewis, 58, who died Aug. 29, 2009, at Oregon Health & Science University's Cancer Care Center following a nine-month battle with lung cancer.

Born Oct. 4, 1950, in Palm Springs, Calif., to "Doc" McRory and Florence Smith, she was raised by her mother in Avalon, Santa Catalina Island, Calif.

Mrs. Lewis lived in South Lake Tahoe; Maui, Hawaii; Gardnerville, and finally Port Orford, Ore.

She worked in a Gardnerville flower shop, as a casino dealer at Lake Tahoe, and pet sitting, in addition to being a homemaker.

An avid environmentalist and animal activist, Mrs. Lewis was a fervent gardener, and wonderful cook.

She enjoyed traveling with her husband and family. Family members said she will be remembered most as a passionate and deeply devoted wife, mother, sister, aunt and grandmother.

She was preceded in death by her parents; brother James "Jimmy" McRory, and father-in-law Art Lewis.

She is survived by her husband of 22 years Mark Lewis; sons Dylan (Jennifer) Umphress, Rob (Renee) Lewis, Sam (Jennifer) Lewis and Ryan Lewis; brothers Bill (Valerie) McRory, sister- and brother-in-law Vernon and Sandy Berry; mother-in-law Odessa Lewis; stepmother Eina McRory; nephews Jason and Sean McRory; grandsons Izaiah Umphress, Issac and Devon Lewis and granddaughters Alisha, Samantha, Ariella, Brooke, Sarina, and Angelina Lewis.

According to her wishes, donations can be made to the American Lung Association at www.lungusa.org or to the World Wildlife Foundation at www.worldwild.org.