Mary Louise McIntosh

Mary Louise McIntosh, age 88, of Lake Oswego, Oregon, passed away peacefully on September 21, 2021.

Born on December 8, 1933, in Sand Springs, Oklahoma, Mary was the only child of Euphemia Lee Knoch and John Casper Knoch. She spent her formative years in Oklahoma and California, raised by her parents and her aunt, Letha Bradshaw.

While attending Grant Union High School in Sacramento, Mary met her lifelong partner, Chester Henry “Chet” McIntosh. They married in 1950 at the age of 17, beginning a joyful and inseparable partnership that spanned 70 years. Those who knew them often remarked on their deep compatibility and unwavering devotion to one another.

Mary and Chet began their married life in Florida and South Carolina during Chet’s U.S. Army service. Their son John was born in 1953, followed by daughter Carolyn in 1955 after the family returned to California.

The McIntosh family eventually settled in Livermore, California, where Mary nurtured her children and developed lifelong passions for nutrition, cooking, and creative arts. In 1968, the family moved to Piedmont, California, as Chet’s career advanced.

In 1978, Mary and Chet fulfilled a long-held dream by purchasing a ranch in Colfax, California. Nestled in the Sierra Nevada foothills and surrounded by extended family, their ranch became a cherished retreat. Mary thrived there—cultivating a large organic garden, and exploring, along with Chet, various entrepreneurial endeavors.

In 2000, Mary and Chet embarked on a new chapter as full-time RV travelers, exploring the U.S. and developing a deep affection for Baja California. These adventures brought them closer to family, reconnected them with old friends, and led to many new relationships.

Later in life, they settled in Lake Oswego, Oregon, to be near Carolyn and her family. Even into her 80s, Mary remained vibrant and engaged. She explored (and shared) new recipes, delved further into family history, and became a successful eBay seller. Her love of learning, generous heart, and quiet strength left a lasting impression on all who knew her. 

Mary was predeceased by her parents and her brother-in-law, Harry Andrew McIntosh, Jr. She is lovingly remembered by her children, John Andrew McIntosh and Carolyn McIntosh Rowe; daughter-in-law Lynne McIntosh; John and Lynne’s sons, Ted and Russell McIntosh; daughter-in-law Lisa Migliorisi; Carolyn’s sons, Steven, Michael, and John “Toby” Rowe; daughter-in-law Jackie Presuitti; and granddaughters Joelle “Joey” Rowe and Ava Rowe.

In accordance with Mary and Chet’s wishes, a private burial was held in Livermore, California.