Mary H. Cupp

Mary H. Cupp, 93, peacefully passed on to her Lord on Monday, June 29, 2009, at Linkville House in Klamath Falls. She was surrounded by family and dear caregivers, as she desired.
Mary was born in Daisytown, Pa., on Feb. 3, 1916, to her parents Jozsef and Maria Horgus. She had two brothers, Steve and Joseph, and one sister, Helen.
They lived on a lovely farm in the rural hills of Pennsylvania for all of her childhood years and returned there for a visit during her 50th high school reunion.
After high school, Mary married William Vernon Cupp on June 4, 1937.
Moving to Detroit, Mich., she worked in the aircraft division of the Fort Motor Co. during World War II while her husband served in the Merchant Marines. She had two daughters Carol Ann and Joyce Marie.
In 1952, the family, along with her beloved mother Maria, moved to Southern California, living in Van Nuys, Hesperia, Sepulveda and Sherman Oaks over the years.
In 1996, Mary moved to Ashland, Ore., just prior to her daughter Joyce's move to Klamath Falls. As her health declined, she moved to Klamath Falls for the assisted living opportunities she found necessary once she lost her vision. She spent many years at Clairmont Retirement Apartments (now known as Shasta View Retirement Aptartments.), Crystal Terrace Assisted Living, Marquis Care at Plum Ridge Residential, and most recently at Linkville House.
Mary was a bookkeeper by occupation after moving to California. She retired in 1964 and spent much time planning for the time her husband, Bill, would retire and they would be free to travel, which was certainly her fondest wish. Mr. Cupp died suddenly in October 1982 so their retirement dreams were never fulfilled.
She did follow a lifetime desire to visit Hungary in later years, which was the homeland of her parents. She enjoyed four trips to that country, along with other European countries of interest, as well as many of our states in the U.S.
Mary was a lifetime member of Howe Methodist Church in Pennsylvania and followed this as her faith journey all of her life, visiting Methodist churches wherever her family lived. She was also a lifetime member of the Order of Eastern Star in Lincoln Park, Mich., and served on the guardian council of the Job's Daughters in Reseda, Calif.
Blindness came to her late in her life, but prior to that she enjoyed oil painting, gardening, sewing, and embroidery work. She listened to news programs constantly and could tell you most every detail of the current state of affairs within our nation as well as across the seas.
Mary is survived by her daughter Carol Ann Gile and her husband Will of Del Norte, Colo.; daughter Joyce Marie Keller and her husband Ralph of Klamath Falls; four grandsons, Earnest, Brent, Colin and Alan; and two step-granddaughters, Laura and Martha. Her small family over the years swelled to 20 great-grandchildren with one more on the way. She also leaves two nieces, Rosemary Amen and Patricia Denton and three nephews William Horgus, Davis Pondur and Jack Pondur.
Her later years in Klamath Falls provided her with special caregivers and friends, namely Donnel Stroh, Marsha Eccles, Carol and Gary Tratz, Dr. Jerri Britsch (her devoted physician) and Ms. Rosalie Chase.
Preceding her in death were her husband, William, her parents, Maria and Jozsef; two brothers, Joseph Horgus and Steve Pondur, and her sister, Helen Andrews.
Memorial donations may be made in Mary's name to Sky Lakes Medical Center Foundation, Attn.: Sally-Ann Palcovich, foundation director, 2865 Daggett Ave., Klamath Falls, OR 97601. A nursing scholarship will be created in her memory as her strongest desire throughout her life was to follow nursing as a vocation. Although she wasn't able to fulfill that dream, she was delighted that several of her family did accomplish medical occupations, including nursing.
A Memorial Service of Celebration for Mary will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, July 7, 2009, in First Presbyterian Church, 601 Pine St., with the Rev. David Dendy and Mrs. Barbara Dehlinger officiating. Luncheon will be served immediately following the service in the fellowship hall at the church. Ward's Klamath Funeral Home is in charge of the private burial arrangements.