Official Obituary of
Mary Jane Stokke
August 16, 1923 ~ September 15, 2015 (age 92) 92 Years Old
Mary Stokke Obituary
The world lost a beautiful, unique and independent individual on September 15th when Mary Jane Stokke passed away at Big Sky Senior Living Mariposa Memory Unit. Her passing will leave a tremendous void in many lives. Mary Jane was a spirited, talented, loving and fun daughter, wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother and friend. Her elegant and memorable presence brightened any gathering in which she participated.
She was born to the late Charles (Sonny) and Jane Gray Gorr on August 23, 1923 in Anaconda, Montana. She grew up on West 3rd Street, formed many lifelong friendships, and graduated from Anaconda High. She received her Bachelor of Arts Degree and teaching certificate from the University Of Montana School Of Business in 1945. World War II was underway and her handsome hometown boyfriend, Mel Stokke, Lieutenant, US Army, was in San Luis Obispo on leave. Mel proposed marriage and Mary Jane accepted. She waved good bye to Sonny and Jane and boarded a train all by herself to travel to California for their wedding on January 12, 1945. Their wartime marriage happily lasted 60 years until Mel's death in 2005.
Following the end of the war Mel and Mary Jane moved to Bozeman where Mel completed his engineering degree. They then returned to Anaconda where he worked for the Anaconda Company and Mary Jane devoted her time to her son and daughter, Chuck and Marsha, and to her home. Mary Jane's primary focus then and always was her family. She was an only child and was a devoted and loving daughter to her parents who also resided in Anaconda. The entire family enjoyed many happy times at their family cabin where projects were always underway. Mary Jane managed events, menus, logistics and multitudes of visitors at "the lake."
Mary Jane worked for the Anaconda Federal Union in the 40's and for the FBI in Butte in 1945. She also taught business skills in Anaconda's Adult Education Program. She was an accomplished artist and was known for her watercolors and beautiful pastel portraits of children. She had an eye for color and decorating, and her talent and artistic taste helped beautify many homes. She was an excellent cook and hosted enjoyable dinner parties and holiday gatherings. Mary Jane also enjoyed gardening and playing bridge.
Mel and Mary Jane enjoyed traveling with his work and following his retirement. Their journeys included trips to Paris (a favorite), Norway (where they enjoyed visiting Mel's cousins), Russia (where hotels posted guards in the hall), China (where she lost weight because she wasn't fond of Asian food), Japan, (the art was beautiful). The Netherlands, Alaska, the Southwest and Florida. They loved spending January in Maui. Their favorite spot, however, was their cabin on Stuart Mill Creek at Georgetown Lake where five generations gathered over the years to celebrate birthdays, holidays and summer.
Mary Jane contributed a lively spark to every activity in which she was involved. Whether salmon fishing on Georgetown Lake, hosting large social gatherings, playing at a grandchild's birthday party or attending a meeting, she pepped up the event and made it fun. She was a member and past president of both Kappa Alpha Theta Sorority and Chapter T, PEO. She also belonged to WAAIME, the Women's Auxiliary to the American Institute of Mining, Metallurgical and Petroleum Engineers. She was a lifelong member of St. Mark's Episcopal Church and Guild.
America's Greatest Generation has lost one of its most colorful individuals. Mary Jane lived through the depression and gratefully welcomed her husband home from his years as a WWII combatant. She worked hard, enjoyed life, developed her artistic talent and creatively nurtured children and friends. She was not one to waste time and encouraged everyone to successfully complete the task at hand in
a timely manner. Her wisdom, quick wit and astute observations will be sorely missed by all who knew her.
Surviving Mary Jane are her children and their spouses, Chuck and Wini Stokke, Anaconda; Marsha and
Lawson Lowe, Missoula; grandchildren and spouses, Melanie and Santiago Gonzales, Denver, Colorado; Eric Lowe, Missoula; Chris and Mike Stokke, Missoula; greatgrandchildren, Alexis Lowe, Nathan and Liam Gonazles; her cousin and spouse, Suzanne and Steve Pate, Hendersonville, Tennessee.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Jane and Sonny Gorr; her husband, Mel; brothers and sisters in law, Doris and Hank Vollmer and Margaret and Richard Boylan.
Funeral services will be held for Mary Jane at St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Anaconda on Friday, September 25th at 10:30 AM.
Because Mary Jane had a lifelong love of dogs, especially Boston Terriers, the family requests memorials be given to Pintler Pets, P.O. Box 1204, Anaconda, MT 59711 or a charity of the donor's choice.
105 E. 6th St.
Anaconda, MT 59711
She was born to the late Charles (Sonny) and Jane Gray Gorr on August 23, 1923 in Anaconda, Montana. She grew up on West 3rd Street, formed many lifelong friendships, and graduated from Anaconda High. She received her Bachelor of Arts Degree and teaching certificate from the University Of Montana School Of Business in 1945. World War II was underway and her handsome hometown boyfriend, Mel Stokke, Lieutenant, US Army, was in San Luis Obispo on leave. Mel proposed marriage and Mary Jane accepted. She waved good bye to Sonny and Jane and boarded a train all by herself to travel to California for their wedding on January 12, 1945. Their wartime marriage happily lasted 60 years until Mel's death in 2005.
Following the end of the war Mel and Mary Jane moved to Bozeman where Mel completed his engineering degree. They then returned to Anaconda where he worked for the Anaconda Company and Mary Jane devoted her time to her son and daughter, Chuck and Marsha, and to her home. Mary Jane's primary focus then and always was her family. She was an only child and was a devoted and loving daughter to her parents who also resided in Anaconda. The entire family enjoyed many happy times at their family cabin where projects were always underway. Mary Jane managed events, menus, logistics and multitudes of visitors at "the lake."
Mary Jane worked for the Anaconda Federal Union in the 40's and for the FBI in Butte in 1945. She also taught business skills in Anaconda's Adult Education Program. She was an accomplished artist and was known for her watercolors and beautiful pastel portraits of children. She had an eye for color and decorating, and her talent and artistic taste helped beautify many homes. She was an excellent cook and hosted enjoyable dinner parties and holiday gatherings. Mary Jane also enjoyed gardening and playing bridge.
Mel and Mary Jane enjoyed traveling with his work and following his retirement. Their journeys included trips to Paris (a favorite), Norway (where they enjoyed visiting Mel's cousins), Russia (where hotels posted guards in the hall), China (where she lost weight because she wasn't fond of Asian food), Japan, (the art was beautiful). The Netherlands, Alaska, the Southwest and Florida. They loved spending January in Maui. Their favorite spot, however, was their cabin on Stuart Mill Creek at Georgetown Lake where five generations gathered over the years to celebrate birthdays, holidays and summer.
Mary Jane contributed a lively spark to every activity in which she was involved. Whether salmon fishing on Georgetown Lake, hosting large social gatherings, playing at a grandchild's birthday party or attending a meeting, she pepped up the event and made it fun. She was a member and past president of both Kappa Alpha Theta Sorority and Chapter T, PEO. She also belonged to WAAIME, the Women's Auxiliary to the American Institute of Mining, Metallurgical and Petroleum Engineers. She was a lifelong member of St. Mark's Episcopal Church and Guild.
America's Greatest Generation has lost one of its most colorful individuals. Mary Jane lived through the depression and gratefully welcomed her husband home from his years as a WWII combatant. She worked hard, enjoyed life, developed her artistic talent and creatively nurtured children and friends. She was not one to waste time and encouraged everyone to successfully complete the task at hand in
a timely manner. Her wisdom, quick wit and astute observations will be sorely missed by all who knew her.
Surviving Mary Jane are her children and their spouses, Chuck and Wini Stokke, Anaconda; Marsha and
Lawson Lowe, Missoula; grandchildren and spouses, Melanie and Santiago Gonzales, Denver, Colorado; Eric Lowe, Missoula; Chris and Mike Stokke, Missoula; greatgrandchildren, Alexis Lowe, Nathan and Liam Gonazles; her cousin and spouse, Suzanne and Steve Pate, Hendersonville, Tennessee.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Jane and Sonny Gorr; her husband, Mel; brothers and sisters in law, Doris and Hank Vollmer and Margaret and Richard Boylan.
Funeral services will be held for Mary Jane at St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Anaconda on Friday, September 25th at 10:30 AM.
Because Mary Jane had a lifelong love of dogs, especially Boston Terriers, the family requests memorials be given to Pintler Pets, P.O. Box 1204, Anaconda, MT 59711 or a charity of the donor's choice.
Service
SEP 25. 10:30 AM (MDT)
St. Mark's Episcopal Church105 E. 6th St.
Anaconda, MT 59711
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