Mary Louise (Beck) Walker

Mary Louise Walker, former Canyon City (Marysville) resident, passed away on August 24, 2023, in Bend, Oregon of natural causes.  She was 85 years of age.

Mary was born in La Grande, Oregon to William E. Beck and Florence M. (Dial) Beck on September 29, 1937.  She graduated from La Grande High School in 1955.  She went on to attend college in Spokane, Washington, completing a Secretarial Studies program.  She moved to John Day in 1957 and began working at the U.S. Forest Service. There she met Tylton J. (Jim) Walker, Jr., and they married in 1958.  Mary went on to work at the Prairie City School District, the John Day Ford dealership, and the Agricultural Conservation and Stabilization Service (ASCS), she then returned to work at the U.S. Forest Service in the Dispatch Center.  Mary retired from the U.S. Forest Service as a Support Services Supervisor.  She found that full retirement wasn’t for her, and she began working part-time at the Grant County Extension Office 4-H Program.  She loved working with the 4-H children and families, and she enjoyed her time working with everyone at the Grant County Fair.

Mary was involved in many activities and organizations in Grant County.  She was a Master Gardner and loved teaching classes.  She was a member of the Prairie City Garden Club and the Prairie City Grange. She served as Secretary for the John Day Rural Fire District for more than 40 years.  She also served as a judge at several eastern Oregon county fairs in the flower and vegetable divisions.  Mary loved to work in her yard and garden and raise her chickens. And, she adored her Cocker Spaniels.

Mary is preceded in death by her parents and her husband of 44 years.  She is survived by her sister, Patricia Prince of Shoreline, Washington, son Jim (April) Walker of Burns, Oregon, daughters Cindee (Bruce) Gannon of Bend, Oregon, and Cristy (Richard) Gray of Milwaukie, Oregon, five grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.  She is also survived by two nephews.

No services will be held, but the family is planning a Celebration of Life at a later date.

Contributions may be made in Mary’s name to the Elks Eye Clinic, The Dementia Society of America, the Grant County 4-H Youth Development Program, or the Grant Union High School FFA Program through Driskill Memorial Chapel at 241 S. Canyon Blvd., John Day, OR 97845.

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