Mary Frances Stratton

passed peacefully in her sleep on the evening of December 24, 2014 at 95 years and 4 days. My last visit with mom was just a few hours before her onward journey. We talked about my picking up a few items to bring over the next morning. As we talked, she got tired and said that she just wanted to get a good nights sleep. Her last words to me were "I love you and thank you for everything that you do". She passed several hours later in her sleep.Mom led an adventurous life for a woman of her generation. Coming from old Iowa farm stock, she decided at a young age that her future lay elsewhere. Her travels started at age 4, when her family drove an old model-T from Pasco Washington to the family farmsteads in Grundy County IA. After working for several prominent families in Grundy County and Marshalltown, she moved out west to visit her Grandfather Cole. During the war years, she was a Rosie the Riveter building B-17's for Douglas Aircraft. Moving to Portland OR in 1947, she settled down, bought her first boarding house, and began a 25 year career with the phone company. Mom had the travel bug. She traveled to Mexico and Europe in the 50s. It was in the 50s that mom met Glen Rudesill and his daughter Gwen. Mom welcomed Gwen as her lifetime daughter. Mom also met Emil Cufr when her father married Emil's mother. Both mom and Emil saw kindred spirits in each other as they cared for their parents.The 60s were an exciting period. I was born, mom built her first 19 unit apartment complex, and she and I began our travels, reconnecting with family, visiting new places. With mom, I got to visit Europe, North Africa and the South Pacific Islands. I was fortunate to be included as a part of her travels. The 80s started with the births of her first two Grandchildren, Garret and Kathryn. She was a loving and adoring grandmother. Always looking for travel companions, she took the grandkids on CFO camping trips, Alaskan cruises, and shared her life, love and faith with them.The beginning of the 21st century came with a new grandson, Jack. In 2008 she moved away from Portland, her home town for almost 60 years, to be closer to family. Her new home was Montclair Park, where she became known as the crossword puzzle lady, using them, to keep her mind sharp. She held court in the coffee shop, making friends with the other residents as well as their families.I'm comforted to be able to say that mom and I have had a long loving, positive, and supportive relationship. She has left, knowing that her son is happy and doing well, her grandchildren are happy and doing well, and that she has contributed to the wellbeing of her family. I truly believe that she passed in peace with herself, her family, and with God.We will have a small family memorial service in Beaman IA in the spring of 2015.Love and Peace,Danny, Moira, Garret, Kathryn, and Jack