Central Oregonian

Mary Frances Perry Babcock Gordon

March 21, 2013

Mary Frances Perry Babcock Gordon, 87, of Prineville, passed away on March 17, 2013 after a long illness. Mary was born July 28, 1925 in San Diego, Calif. to James Bruce Perry and Myrrhl (Crates) Perry. She moved to Hermiston, Ore. as a young child. She graduated from Hermiston High School in 1942, and Eastern Oregon College in LaGrande, Ore. in 1944. She taught school in several small schools and in Madras. She met her husband, Cyrus Krepps Babcock during this time, while he was chief of police. They were soon married on June 1, 1949 in Niagara Falls, N.Y. They moved to Prineville, and bought the Texaco Service Station across from the court house. In 1952, they sold the station and moved their growing family to a small farm out of town. Two more children were born soon after. After the death of her husband, Cy, on Feb. 6, 1971, she married S.P. (Pete) Gordon, a friend of Cy’s on Dec. 24, 1973. They lived in La Pine, Ore. and Mary opened “Gordon’s Gallery” at their home. Mary sold art supplies and taught many people to paint. She was an accomplished painter who displayed her paintings in the court house and the county tax office. After the death of Pete, she sold her home in La Pine, and moved back to Prineville to be near her family. She is survived by her daughter, Carol Hayre (Lonny), Prineville; and son, Gary Babcock, La Pine. She is also survived by numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and her best friend Patty London, Bend, Ore. She will be greatly missed by her family and her cat, Tom. Preceding her in death were her parents, James and Myrrhl Perry, husbands, Cy Babcock and S.P. Gordon, her sons, Daniel Babcock and William Babcock.

At her request, no services will be held.

We would like to thank all the doctors and nurses at P.M.H. (St. Charles, Prineville) for all the wonderful care she received while there, as well as Hospice care.

Arrangements are in the care of Prineville Funeral Home. Please sign the online guestbook and share your memories at www.prinevillefuneralhome.com.