June 15, 1924 - June 19, 2011



Mary was born in Elgin, Minnesota to Ralph A. and Rozilla M. Gregory. Ralph was a building contractor. In his later years, he was a missionary and hymn writer, assisted in rebuilding King's Gardens in Seattle, Washington; homes and church in Chico, California, and many churches in Kitsap County.

The family moved to Washington in 1941, Mary and her sister Doris worked at Keyport Undersea Warfare Equipment Station in Washington state during WWII, Mary in the torpedo shop. She married James D. Wilson in 1953, divorced in 1965.

Mary learned to play the piano as a young girl, while honing her skill of sewing. She was a skilled musician, played piano and organ in various churches from age 16 until recent illness prevented her from playing at Charleston Baptist, where she is greatly missed.

In 1960, Mary opened 'Mary's Sewing Service' at 308 N. Callow Ave, Bremerton, providing much-needed tailoring, alterations, costumes, mending, etc. for the citizens of Kitsap County - at a time when the failure rate for small women-owned businesses was over 98%. Mary operated her business successfully without college degree, business plan, telephone, or computer. Mary's daughters Wanda, Karen, and Susan worked her shop at various times. At her retirement celebration, Mary was presented with a key to the City by Councilwoman Carol Arends.

Mary was preceeded in death by her parents, her sister Doris J. Gregory Bailey, and her daughter Susan M. Wilson Schwanke.

She is survived by her daughters Wanda J. Cansler, Karen A. Hoover, son James A. Wilson; adopted children Wayne A. Locheed, Joseph Sweitzer, Janice Gibbs, Roxanne Bushor Balogh, to name a few.

A Celebration of Life service will be held Friday, July 1, 2011, at 7:00 pm.