Sept. 30, 1925 - May 7, 2009

Mary died May 7, 2009, in Corvallis.

She was born in Lakeview on Sept. 30, 1925, to C. Edna Moss Piper and Raymond B. Piper. She grew up on the family farm in Lakeview, where her family raised cattle, chickens and alfalfa.

Mary graduated from Lakeview High School in 1943, and from Oregon State College, now OSU, in 1947 with a bachelor of science degree in education. She taught one year, and was a substitute teacher at Triangle Lake School for about 10 years. Beginning in the 1960s, Mary wrote the Greenleaf column for the West Lane News for more than 20 years.

She was a homemaker, mother, confidante and Sunday school teacher. She served on the Missions Board for Triangle Lake Memorial Community Church, helped adults and children learn to read, and served as Senior Services outreach coordinator in Junction City.

She was married to Edward A. Steinhauer from 1947 to 1983, and was married to Gerald D. Bailey from September 1988 until his death in 2006.

Mary enjoyed family history, writing, crewel embroidery, calligraphy, square dancing, travel, and playing the harmonica and piano.

She was preceded in death by her son, Daniel, in 1985; and sisters Jane Tracy in 1988 and Doris Amaral in 2007.

Survivors include her children, Steven of Deadwood, Maria Keltner of Corvallis, and Samuel of Blachly; sisters, Edna Hedberg of Brookings and Betty Cooper of Newport; grandchildren, Scott, Samantha and Chad of Blachly and Miranda and KacyJo of Corvallis; and great-grandchildren Taylor and Dylan of Blachly.

Mary was a member of First Christian Church of Junction City, 1250 Nyssa St., where a memorial celebration of her life will take place at 11 a.m. Saturday, June 6.