Mary Ann McPherson

Mary Ann Baldwin McPherson Dec. 25, 1911 - April 22, 2011 Mary Ann Baldwin McPherson, 99-years old, was born on Christmas Day 1911 to pioneer parents, Ed and Orpha (Amack) Baldwin. She was born on the family farm located south of Meridian and joined two brothers and a sister. She passed peacefully on April 22, 2011, in Meridian Idaho. She attended Locust Grove Grade School, Amity Grade School, and Meridian High School, graduating in 1930. She was on the girls' basketball and tennis teams, and played violin in the orchestra. In her senior year, she and her partner were the horseshoe champions. After graduation, she attended St Luke's Nursing School, but with teaching as her goal, she dropped out and attended Lewiston Normal school and received her two-year Teacher's Certificate in 1933. Her first teaching job was four years at Amity Grade School with a salary of $50 per month, which she thought was wonderful. In March 1937, she married Chester (Chet) McPherson, and they lived on their farm for 38 years. Chet ran the farm, and Mary taught school. During and after WWII, Mary taught at Columbia, Amity, Hillsdale, and Locust Grove rural grade schools. During this time, she also continued her education at College of Idaho and reared daughter Bonnie and Beverly. Mary was the first lady Principal of the Meridian School District (at Southside Elementary) and retired in 1977 after 37 years of teaching and being principal of Southside. At her retirement party, Southside Elementary was renamed Mary McPherson Elementary in her honor, and she was given a lifetime membership to the national and state PTA organization. Mary wore many hats, those being a school teacher/principal, farmer's wife, mother of two girls, "Grammy" to six grandsons (including two set of twins), and a dedicated "Granger". She was an active member of Meridian United Methodist Church, Locust Grove Grange, Good Sam Club, Meridian Historical Society, Meridian Senior Center, and a charter member of Zeta chapter, Alpha Delta Kappa teacher's sorority. After her retirement, she kept the financial books for the Meridian United Methodist Church for ten years and enjoyed playing in the church adult hand bell choir as well as helping with rummage sales and bazaars. Even though Mary was born on Christmas Day, she says her Mother always made her Christmas birthday special with a birthday cake and birthday presents in addition to Christmas presents. Her nieces and nephews grew up calling her "Aunt Mame". She is survived by two daughters and their husbands: Bonnie (Elwin) Ross, Redmond, OR and Beverly (Sam) Gruberman, Belleville, IL; six grandsons: Dan (Vicki) and Doug Ross; Gregg, Gary, Jeff, and Jaye (Jennifer) Gruberman; and 16 great-grandchildren; sister-in-law Babette Baldwin; two brothers-in-law Charles and Ray McPherson, and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband (Chet), parents, two brothers, Lee and Paul Baldwin, a sister, Evelyn Crawforth, and a granddaughter Rexene Ross. We would like to thank the staff of Meridian's Spring Creek Manor Assisted Living for the great care they gave Mary during her 4 ? years with them. Thanks also to Harrison's Hope Hospice staff. Visitation will be on Thursday, April 28 from 5pm to 7pm at Chapel of the Chimes, 105 E Carlton, Meridian. Graveside service will be held Friday, April 29 at 10am at Meridian Cemetery. A memorial service will follow at 11:30 at the Meridian United Methodist Church. Memorial donations, in memory of Mary McPherson, can be made to the Meridian United Methodist Church "Scholarship fund", 235 E Pine Ave, Meridian, ID 83642; the Idaho Youth Ranch, PO Box 8538, Boise, ID 83707; or Harrison's Hope Hospice, 1979 N Locust Grove, Meridian, ID 83646. "A teacher affects eternity; she can never know where her influence stops" - Henry Adams