Mary O. Mattson Tetley Tetley

Mary Ovedia (Mattson) Tetley

September 15, 1930 - November 3, 2009

Your classmate of 1949 was a world traveler, a teacher to thousands of children and shared her lifes experiences to everyone she met. Mary graduated from Montana State University in 1952 she enjoyed her life by doing what she loved, Teaching School. In 1954 she wanted to teach in the "Last Frontier" Alaska. She met her future husband on a train west bound for an Alaskan destination. On September 1, 1955 she married Peter Van Tetley at Ft Richardson Army Chapel near Anchorage, Territory of Alaska. Mary was a military wife so she taught thousands of children around the world for 38 years; 23 of which were in School District 49 in Falcon, Colorado where she retired in 1992. Mary and Peter had two sons and after raising their two boys she had the special joy of raising her granddaughter as her own since the age of four. Mary was very happy to see her new great granddaughter come into this world less than a month of her passing. Amonng other joys she loved playing piano, loved and took comfort in the dogs they had over the years; collected clowns, snowmen, owls. She loved sunflower's that is how she got her nickname "Sunshine". Mary was active in the community as a Past Auxilary Pesident at American Legion Post 5 in 1976-77; past member of Alpha Delta Kappa - Teachers Sorority. She also supported her husband's love of automobiles. She was full of love for people and life. The warmth she brought to others will be greatly missed.

Mary's long 10 year battle with Alzhiemers is over and we are blessed that she no longer suffers and is in Gods loving care. Though the circumstances of human life may mdraw us apart, the love we have given to one another continues to spin through time and space. As life is a continuously nurturing process, so is love; and the moments we share can never be lost, erased or denied. To honor the past for the vibrancy of its life is to honor this hour and all time yet to come.

World traveler/teacher to Alaska, France, Texas, and Colorado besides Montana. Teacher of many grades for 38 years; husband USAF; 28 years.(CMSGT.) Settled in Colorado Springs in 1966. Retired in 1992 to raise a young grandaughter, Rebecca, while husband continued a second career in automobile and trucks sales for 26 years.Mary now suffers from Alzhiemers for the past six years. She has limited memory, but hopes to attend this reunion. I can only speak on her behalf

I can only speak on her behalf.She has often told me of her many, many friends of high school days. She cherished her many memories as fun experiences in her young life at that time. Now they are locked in her mind forever. Hopefully this reunion will open a few windows in her long term memory. At least we will have tried.