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Obituary for Mary D. O'Holleran
Mary O’Holleran passed away Feb. 19, 2105, at her home in Brookings. She fought a battle with Parkinson’s for many years, and most people had no knowledge of her illness. Mary was born July 11, 1933, in Center Ridge, Arkansas, to parents Harold “Doc” and Marie Holloway. They lived in the area until a tornado took Doc’s office away. Mary told of how at 8 years of age she and her mother hid under a bridge as the storm rolled through. She remembered horses running across the bridge in a panic as the tornado advanced. A year later her parents’ car was struck head-on by a drunk driver on Christmas Day and her mother was killed. She spent a lot of time at her Grandma and Grandpa Bennet’s after that, and she so loved the country life. Mary graduated from high school at Hornersville, Missouri, where she was a star on the girls basketball team. In 1949, after graduating, she met and later married Harry Hall. They moved to El Toro in Orange County, California, in 1954, as Harry was in the Marine Corps. After his discharge they moved to Eureka, California, and she attended Humboldt State University, where she played on the women’s basketball team. She worked nights as a switchboard operator until her graduation in 1962. In May 1962, their son Michael came along and she started teaching school soon after in Fortuna, California. They moved to Brookings in 1971, and she continued to teach in Brookings for more than 20 years. She loved “her” kids and no one went without her love or a coat or a pair of shoes if they needed them. She was instrumental in creating the annual Back-to-School Breakfast in Brookings to support the schools. Years later, Mary could not believe how much of an impact she had made on her students, and she loved you all deeply. In the early 1980s, she and Harry divorced. In 1987, Mary married Richard O’Holleran, whom she described as “the most wonderful man in the world” and she was right. They shared 28 wonderful years during which he showered her with love. Mary then started her real estate career and really enjoyed her clients and colleagues. She never really wanted to quit; it was not in her vocabulary. Mary was the most intelligent, kind, strong and generous woman we’ve been lucky to know and love. Mary’s favorite things were spending time with her loving husband Dick, and reading, baking, sewing, the Portland Trail Blazers, and her dog Ebony. She is still remembered for sewing jackets for the Brookings-Harbor High School Sea Breeze, Emblem Club and the basketball team. Mary’s family and loved ones are husband Dick O’Holleran; son Mike Hall; daughter-in-law Torea Hall; granddaughters Amber Hall (husband Andrew), Sierra Hall (husband Garrett), Brandi Hall, and grandson Bryan Purdue; great-grandchildren Landon, Hudson, Harper, Tyson and Tyler; brother-in-law Bob (wife Kay) Boyd; cousin and partner-in-mischief Benny Huie and wife Betty. We miss her so much but we have comfort in knowing a little Jack Russell Terrier named Brodie was first to welcome Mary to Heaven, and most likely barked at her for good measure. The family would like to thank Curry Home Health and Hospice and Dawn Shipp for their care. She requested no services; however a get-together is being planned to celebrate her life on July 11, 2015. Announcements will be posted as to location and time. The family suggests donations to the South Coast Humane Society or the Brookings Community Helpers Food Bank.
