Mary Virginia Crees

Mary Virginia Crees, age 94, of Grants Pass, died Wednesday, February 12, 2014 in Grants Pass.

A memorial service will held be at 1:00 p.m., Thursday, February 20, 2014 at Hull & Hull Funeral Directors.

Donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, 1650 NW Naito Parkway Suite 190, Portland, Oregon 97209 or Lovejoy Hospice, 939 SE 8th Street, Grants Pass, Oregon 97526.

Mary was born February 19, 1919 in Wagner, South Dakota to Frances (Tietge) & Vernon Sadler. The family later moved to Washta, Iowa where Mary graduated from high school as valedictorian of her class. One month before graduation her mother passed away and Mary remained at home for several years helping care for five brothers and sisters. A few years after, she married Frank Lewis and they raised three sons before later divorcing. At age 50, Mary returned to school and received her LPN nursing license. She loved nursing and especially caring for critically ill patients. She went on to work as an analyst for Rockwell Missile Systems in California for several years before returning to nursing. During these years she was very active in the Business and Professional Women’s Organization and was president of a local Nursing Association. On Valentine’s Day 1960 she married Harry C. Shetrone in Simi Valley, California. After retiring to Clear Lake, California she and Harry were both interested and involved in politics until his death in 1984. On January 30, 1993 in Sun City, Arizona, Mary married Herb Crees and later that year they purchased a home and moved to Grants Pass, Oregon. They summered in Oregon and wintered in Arizona. They also spent a lot of time traveling and Mary’s favorite pastime was going on cruises. Herb passed away in 2008.

Mary loved spending time with family and friends and enjoyed golf, dancing, traveling, inviting friends over for “high tea,” and playing cards (she especially enjoyed winning). She also loved birthday celebrations and holidays and delighted in shopping and wrapping special gifts. Mary was a very giving person who loved to do things for other people, and she was always ready to help whenever she could. She was a member of the United Methodist Church and was actively involved most of her life.

Survivors include three sons, Terry Lewis and wife Elaine of Grants Pass, Oregon, Randy Lewis and wife Debbie of Folsom, California and Steve Lewis and wife Bobbi of Ramsey, Minnesota; six stepchildren; six grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; and five great-great-grandchildren; 19 step-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husbands; seven brothers, Donald, Fred, Ned, Ben, Bob, Howard and Jim Sadler; and three sisters, Lucille Burke, Jeanne Johnson and Frances Alberts.