Andrea Lea Maher

Andrea Lea Maher of Eugene, Oregon passed away peacefully on August 9, 2024, in the loving arms of her family.

Andrea was born to Iola Ann (Penningroth) Johnson and Delbert Dale Johnson on October 10, 1938, at their family home in Durant, Iowa.

The family later moved to West Liberty, Iowa where she grew up and attended school and graduated from West Liberty High School in 1957. While in High School she was active in (FHA) Future Homemakers of America, Student government and excelled as an accomplished clarinet player. After High School she attended Iowa State Teachers College in Cedar Falls, Iowa (University of Northern Iowa) where she obtained her two-year teaching certificate. 

Andrea met the love of her life, Duane Maher, in high school and their first date was an FFA hayride in the fall of 1952. They were married on June 14, 1958, in West Liberty, Iowa. After their marriage, she accepted her first teaching position in Williamsburg, Iowa. In the summer of 1960 they moved to Salem, Oregon where she continued her teaching career and obtained her bachelor’s degree in education from the Oregon College of Education (Western Oregon University). She spent 35 years in the classroom teaching at various rural Oregon schools which included Brooks, Buena Crest, and Fruitland Schools near Salem. After her husband began his career with the Oregon Fish Commission (ODFW) she continued teaching at schools in the areas where they lived on State Fish Hatcheries. During that time, she taught at Bonneville, Cascade Locks, Willamette City, Oakridge, and Lowell Schools. Her career was filled with many accomplishments and many lives touched. She was inducted into the Lowell School Hall of Fame in 2018. Second only to her family was her love for her students. She had an amazing memory and could easily recall the names of many of her former students and the school year and grade level in which she taught them. Some of her most memorable students included her son Martin and grandchildren Ryan and Lindsey Maher. 

In retirement Andrea and Duane purchased a home on the Coast Fork Willamette River near Pleasant Hill, Oregon. They enjoyed tending to a large garden and their walnut orchard. Most of all, they cherished being together and spending time with their family both near and far. She loved family gatherings, camping, singing, cooking, traveling, quilting, and gardening.

In 2017, they moved to Willamette Oaks Retirement Community, where they made many new friends. Those friendships helped to sustain her through difficult times after the passing of her husband of 59 years. She always maintained her positive attitude and friendly spirit throughout her life even as she valiantly battled pancreatic cancer the last thirteen months of her life.  Surviving are two sons, Martin (Shawna) Maher of Lowell and Marshall (Tina) Maher of Oakridge; four grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; one brother, Douglas (Susan) Johnson; and many beloved nieces, nephews, and cousins.

She was proceeded in death by her parents, two infant brothers (Dale Jr. and Don), her husband Duane and an infant son (Mason Maher).

The family would like to thank the staff at Cascade Hospice and the Pete Moore Hospice House for their kind and compassionate care. 

A celebration of life will be held on October 12, 2024, at 1:30 PM at Willamette Oaks, located at 455 Alexander Loop Eugene, Oregon. 

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made in Andrea's name to the Pete Moore Hospice House via Cascade Health Solutions - 2650 Suzanne Way, Eugene, OR 97408.