Mary Charlotte Hathaway

Mary Charlotte Hathaway, age 85, of Grants Pass, died Saturday, July 21, 2012 at her home.

Mary was born July 19, 1927 in Los Angeles, CA to Millard and Loris Hertzog. She and her sister Betty Jean resided at The Hathaway Home for Children in Pasadena, CA from 1933 to 1935. In the 1940s she worked as a waitress and later for Standard Radio Corporation of Los Angeles. In 1947 she married Homer (“Hal”) C. Hathaway of North Hollywood, CA who preceded her in death in 1997. In 1967, she and her family moved from Northridge, CA to Bishop, CA in the foothills of the eastern High Sierra mountains, and later returned to Northridge in 1970. During the 1970s and 1980s, she worked as a legal secretary and assistant within her husband’s law practice located in Encino, CA. In 1922 she moved from Northridge, San Fernando Valley CA to Grants Pass.

Due to her youngest daughter, Cynthia, being born with both cerebral palsy, and a degree of mental retardation, both Charlotte (as she was known by her friends) and her husband Hal were extremely active and instrumental in founding “Valley Village”, an organization dedicated to the education & welfare, as well as providing residential group housing for those with developmental disabilities. She was so much a part of the founding of this organization, that the City of Los Angeles formally recognized her for all of her work and dedication by presenting her with a City Resolution on May 20, 1977. Valley Village is still in existence today in the San Fernando Valley, and has significantly grown and is serving the needs of more persons with developmental disabilities than she could have ever imagined.

She and her husband were also very active and involved with the early days of another wonderful organization serving the needs of those with developmental disabilities known as the Tierra del Sol Foundation of Sunland, CA. They were also very active with Grace Lutheran Church of Bishop, CA and for many years with St. Paul’s Lutheran Church of North Hollywood, CA. She had a rock solid faith and personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

She had a profound love of nature and all wildlife. She loved the incredible beauty of Southern Oregon, as well as the beauty and ruggedness of the High Sierras, and of those backcountry lakes where she used to fish many years ago.

She significantly touched the lives of all who met her and all who knew her, but would have been the last person to think of herself in that way. She was dearly loved, and will be dearly missed by all of those who were lucky enough to have their lives intertwined with hers.

Survivors include a son, Douglas C. Hathaway of Grants Pass, OR. And a nephew-Randall R. Powell of Sacramento, CA

Preceding her in death was her husband, Homer (Hal) C. Hathaway and two daughters, Bonita Bryant and Cynthia Lynn Hathaway.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to: Tierra del Sol Foundation, 9919 Sunland Bl. Sunland, CA 91040 or www.tierradelsol.org and click on “Donate”.

A Celebration of Life will be held in September 2012. Hull & Hull Funeral Directors will be in charge of arrangements.