Mary Jameson Mathews

Mary Jameson Mathews, 85, of Waitsburg, Washington. Passed away on February 9, 2026, in College Place, Wash, after a brief illness.

Mary was born on April 22, 1940, in Green Bay, Wisconsin, to Charles Parker Eastman and Irene Bachman Eastman. When she was young, she moved with her family, including her older sister, to Fond Du Lac, Wis. Mary attended B.F. Goodrich High School and graduated in 1958. She then enrolled at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, joining Alpha Gamma Delta sorority and earning a bachelor's degree in Home Economics. After college, she worked in the laboratory at Green Giant Co. in Le Sueur, Minn., where she formed lifelong friendships and met Robert "Bob" Jameson.

Bob and Mary were married in Fond Du Lac, Wis., on May 17, 1969. They made their home in Hutchinson, Minn., and welcomed their son, Jeffrey, in February 1970. In 1971, they moved out west to Waitsburg, Wash., for Bob's job with Green Giant. In May 1973, their daughter, Jennifer, was born. Mary became an active member of St. Mark's Altar Society during her early years in Waitsburg. Throughout the 1970s and early 1980s, she volunteered in her children's activities, including the Blue Birds, Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, and 4-H-often shuttling a Volkswagen Bus full of kids to activities, camps, or sporting events. When her children were young, she provided in-home childcare for many years. 

Every five years, starting after high school, she would travel back to the Midwest for her class reunion and family visits. In the mid-1980s, Bob and Mary took ownership of the Jackpot store in Waitsburg, running B&M groceries until 1992.

In 1993, Mary began working for the Walla Walla Union-Bulletin as a district circulation manager, overseeing paper delivery routes. In 1999, Bob passed away after a long illness, during which Mary remained a faithful and loving caregiver. She retired from the Union-Bulletin in 2003.

In her retirement, Mary volunteered in the school cafeteria at Waitsburg Elementary and at St. Vincent's in Dayton (now called All Saints.) Mary was a lifelong knitter and always had a good book to read, including during her time completing the Women's Bible Study Fellowship.

In 2005, Mary found friendship and love again with Tom Mathews. Deacon Mike Brier performed their marriage at his chapel in the Blue Mountains on April 22, 2006. They were together until Tom passed away in 2018.

In her later years, she found one of her greatest joys in becoming a grandmother. That role brought her profound happiness and a renewed sense of wonder. Her legacy lives on in the family she cherished so deeply.

Mary held a deep love for God, Jesus Christ, the earth, and all living creatures. Animals were drawn to her gentle spirit-dogs, cats, birds- each one found a patient and devoted friend. A staunch environmentalist (Earth Day Birthday) long before it was common.

She nurtured not only with care and protection, but with imagination and heart. Whether through cooking, baking, sewing, knitting, or tending flowers and plants, she will be remembered for her gentleness, her faith and strength of conviction, and the quiet yet powerful way she moved through this world.

Mary is survived by her son, Jeff (Siobhan), Avery, and Quinn; daughter, Jennifer (Tony), Weylan, and Willie; mother-in-law, Nancy Mathews; brother-in-law, Tim Mathews (Gail); and the extended Mathews Family.

She was preceded in death by her parents; sister, Barbara Hungate; husband, Bob Jameson; husband, Tom Mathews; and mother-in-law, Betty Jameson.

A memorial mass will be held on Saturday, April 18, 2026, at 2 p.m., at St. Mark's Catholic Church in Waitsburg, Wash.

Memorial contributions may be made to Blue Mountain Humane Society through the Herring Groseclose Funeral Home, 315 W Alder St, Walla Walla, Wash., 99362. Friends and family are invited to sign the online guestbook at http://www.herringgroseclose.com.