Mary Jordan Gorton
On Dec. 10, Mary passed on to eternal life surrounded by her husband of 64 years and her children.
Mary was born on March 28, 1918 to Arthur Lewis and Eva Huntsinger Jordan of Columbia Falls. Mary attended high school at Columbia Falls High School and nursing school at St. Patrick's School of Nursing in Missoula, graduating in 1939.
Mary met Shoup in the summer of 1940 while she was employed by Caribou County Hospital in Soda Springs, Idaho. They dated that summer until Shoup went back to school at the University of Denver in September and Mary moved to New Mexico to work for the Navajo Indian Medical Services. They kept in touch, nurturing their love and married on Dec. 27, 1941.
After WW II, following Shoup's career move, Mary worked from 1946 to 1952 as a skilled and caring nurse in Preston, Caldwell, and Weiser. Moving to Boise in 1953 she worked for Doctor's Jamie Chapman, Jerome Burton and Richard Gardner thru 1965.
Mary was a parishioner and helped at St. Michaels Lenten Lunches for 17 years, a volunteer for Red Cross blood drawings and was on the Veterans Hospital Committee on Animal Research. Mary enjoyed gardening, camping, fly fishing, golfing, reading, crossword puzzles, skiing, collecting American Indian art (started by her childhood friend, artist Ace Powell), playing cards, driving her red Jaguar and traveling. Shoup retired in 1978 and for the next 24 years they traveled four times each to Scotland, New Zealand and Hawaii, France twice, Germany, Italy and Jamaica once, Arizona eight times, two trips to Alaska to fish for silver salmon and see the glaciers, three times to British Columbia, Canada and one cruise thru the Panama Canal. Mary was a fun loving, witty, extremely intelligent lady - a legacy she has so beautifully passed on to us all.
Mary was preceded in death by her parents; her brothers, Donald, John and Robert; her sisters, Rachel, Dorothy, Margaret Ellen and Elizabeth; and her son, Ralph S. Gorton III.
Mary is survived by the love of her life, Shoup; her son, Robert (Renae); her daughter, Kathleen ( Jon Seetin). She also leaves behind five grandchildren, David (Joanne), Patty Ann (Patrick) Jennifer (Jack), Jill and Jody; and five great-grandchildren, Alexandra, Danny, Tyler, Mike and Andy.
The Gorton family would like to thank Terese and her wonderful staff at Ivy Place for their tender and loving care. Also to Mary Ellen, Honor and Mark of Four Rivers Hospice for their very special care.
Services were celebrated on Dec. 15, at St. Michaels Cathedral. Burial followed at Terrace Lawn Cemetery. Arrangements are by Summers Funeral Homes, Boise Chapel.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of Mary to The Alzheimer's Association of Greater Idaho, 1111 S Orchard Boise ID 83705; to The Idaho Youth Ranch, PO Box 8538 Boise ID 83707; to St. Michaels Cathedral Memorial Fund, 518 N 8th St. Boise ID 83702; or to a favorite charity.