Mary Francis Cahill Mortier

Mary Francis Cahill Mortier passed away on June 27, 2024 surrounded by her family at the age of 94 from age related causes in Eugene, Oregon. 

She was born as the youngest child to a Lois Elizabeth “Bessie” Waite Cahill and James Martin Cahill on April 12, 1930 in Seattle, Washington.  She had 4 brothers and a sister, Betty.  The family faced many hardships and when Mary was 3 years old her Dad died suddenly.   Mom says,  “My whole life history could have been completely different, maybe we could have stayed in Seattle”. 

Mary and her family had to move to Port Angeles, Washington to live with her grandfather Waite, her Mom’s Dad, who was the oldest Civil War veteran in the state. The house was small and she had to share a twin bed with her Mother. Mary says, “We were really poor, my brothers sent money to Mom.” All four of her brothers served in WW2 and thankfully all came back.

 Mary went to church alone from childhood. She remembers hearing the church bells ring and running to Sunday School. Mom wrote in her diary that one day in her teens she went to church one evening and accepted Jesus and  became a “real Christian.”

After high school she went to nursing school in Bellingham, WA for one year and worked toward her LPN degree. Her sister moved to Hawaii and needed help after having her second child so asked Mom to come. She worked in Hawaii as a nurses aid she loved Hawaii and made many trips back over her lifetime. Mary lived with her sister and Army husband in Schofield Barracks, where bullet holes could still be seen from the Pearl Harbor attack. 

She returned to Seattle, and worked at Swedish Hospital and went to University Presbyterian Church. She was active in the Young Adult church group and that is where she met Emile Mortier they married March 2, 1956 in University Presbyterian Church.  After the wedding Dad and Mom settled in central Seattle not far from Queen Ann’s Hill.  Cindy was born in 1957 and Mark in 1958 while they lived in Seattle. They moved to Highland Park, Illinois where David was born in 1960 and lived there till January 1964. 

They moved the family to Eugene Oregon in 1964 and Lisa was born in 1966. Mary worked as a housewife and supported Dad in his work as a Building Official for the City of Eugene where he worked for nine years. Then in 1973 Emile went out on his own and started Mortier Engineering and Mary was there to encourage him. 

Mary was also active in Christian Women’s Club and was in leadership for many years. She served at her church as head of the Nursery and was committed to praying for others and served on the Prayer Team. She would “adopt” those who were lonely or had needs and brought them flowers and home baked goods. She hosted many foreign students from University of Oregon as well. 

Mom is remembered for her smile and her fun loving nature. She has always been health minded and Cindy remembers the day Mom took the white sugar bowl off the table and replaced it with honey.  She was really before her time in being aware of healthy diet and the value of vitamins. Her faith in Jesus was evident in the way she loved and cared for others. 

Mary was a loving wife and was married for 63 years to Emile and was a loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. Her home and garden was always welcoming and filled with flowers. 

She is survived by her children, Cindy (Mike) Helvie, Mark (Ramona) and David (Kathy) Mortier and Lisa (Steve) King.   Mary is loved by her 13 grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren. Above all, she was a Christian woman who valued her family and her relationship with Jesus Christ. A favorite quote of hers by Mother Teresa was, “Love is doing small things with great love.”

A Memorial Service will be held at Grace Community Fellowship 989 Country Club Road, in Eugene,  Monday, July 8th at 2pm.

If you desire donations can be directed to Dove Medical, 487 E 11th Ave, Eugene, OR 97401

“Here I am I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person and they with me.”  Revelation 3:20