Mary Olson, 1920-2013

Mary Katherine Wyrick Olson, 93, passed away at her home in Oak Harbor, Vero Beach, Florida on July 22, 2013.

She is remembered by her family as an incredibly warm, caring and devoted wife, mother, grandmother and friend, a tenacious advocate for what she believed was right and an inspiration to us all.

Mrs. Olson was born in Fairbury, Nebraska and graduated from high school in Omaha, Nebraska. She received a B.A. from Grinnell College and in 1943 married John Arthur Olson, a physician who passed away in 2008 after their 64 years of marriage.

In 1952, Mrs. Olson settled with her husband and family in Cranford, New Jersey, where she was an actress and costume designer for the Cranford Dramatic Club and a member of the Presbyterian Church and the Cranford Junior Service League. She and her husband moved to Brant Beach, N.J. in 1972 and to Vero Beach, Florida in 1989. She was a long time resident/member of the Oak Harbor Club.

Mrs. Olson is survived by her five children (and their spouses), thirteen grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. They are: son Robert W. Olson and his wife Carol, of Cincinnati, OH and Snowmass Village, CO and their son John (and wife Joy) and daughter Mary Catherine (and husband Josh Jordan); son Steven A. Olson of Long Beach, CA and his wife Jane Hamilton and his daughter Cyndi (and husband David Smith) and son David; son Gregory J. Olson and his wife Rosalind Willis of Weaverville, NC and his son Kale (and wife Sarah) and daughters Rosemary (and husband Travis Lindberg) and Albiona and sons Tai and Leif; son James C. Olson and his wife Sharon of Oakland, CA and their daughter Lindsay and son Peter; and daughter Christine Marie Welsh and her husband Fred Welsh of Yamba, Australia and their daughter Casey and son Colby. The great-grand children are Meade, Loulie, Dorothy and Jaime Olson, Noel Peace and Fallon Smith.

A memorial service will be held 1 pm, Saturday, July 27, 2013 at Community Church, Vero Beach. Internment will take place at a later date in Beresford, SD, where she will be laid to rest next to her husband.

Memorial contributions may be made to the VNA Hospice of Indian River County, 1110 35th Lane, Vero Beach, FL 32960.

Arrangements are under the direction of Cox Gifford Seawinds Funeral Home & Crematory, Vero Beach. An online guestbook may be signed at www.coxgiffordseawinds.com.