Mary Gooze

OREGON - Mary Gooze, a wonderful mom, grandmother, wife, teacher, cancer advocate, and swimmer extraordinaire passed away on November 27, 2024, after a 13-year battle with Stage IV breast cancer. Mary loved reading a good obituary, so hopefully this passes muster.

Mary was the middle of three girls, born in Western Michigan in 1951 to Clayton and Kathryn Wilson. Her dad was superintendent of schools and mom was a teacher. Mary was brought up with a love of learning and books, and a passion for teaching. After graduating from Western Michigan University, she began her elementary education career in Adrian, Michigan.

While getting a master's degree at Eastern Michigan, Mary joined a friend whose husband played on an intramural basketball team at the University of Michigan. One day, the friend's husband had a job interview, so asked his classmate, Rob Gooze, to substitute for him.

After much flirting on the court, Rob won Mary's heart (mostly because he could cook, and Mary didn't know her way around a kitchen). They were married in Ann Arbor in August 1978. After a short stint working in the San Francisco Bay area, the Goozes moved to Oregon, Wisconsin where Mary taught elementary and middle school English and Social Studies for 30 years. Thus, the halo above her head for teaching those grades. (We hope this obituary meets her grammar requirements.).

Mary and Rob enjoyed raising their three children, numerous dogs, cats, rabbits and even two goats. Mary continuously pushed boundaries, enjoying rock climbing, rafting, horseback riding and mountain climbing, and competing in numerous triathlons, where she often medaled. But was disappointed to not be chosen for "The Amazing Race." The year Mary turned 60, she created a to-do list of 60 activities (physical, mental, musical, educational) to complete that year and was featured in a front-page article in the Wisconsin State Journal. (She did, in fact, complete all of them, including reading 6,000 pages and doing 60 pushups at once.).

Mary and Rob also had a love of adventure travel and visited more than 50 countries and much of the USA. Favorites were a walking safari in Zambia, rafting 220 miles of the Grand Canyon, and a small ship cruise to Antarctica. Since their son, David, was in the Peace Corps, they spent four days in a remote village in Togo, West Africa, where Mary got to experience brushing lizards away before using the pit toilets.

Although somewhat of an introvert, Mary joined Oregon Straw Hat Players in 1981; her involvement inspired her children to perform in numerous musicals. Though she never made the Broadway Stage, Mary and Rob enjoyed the theater in NYC, Chicago or at American Players Theater, where they were patrons for more than 40 years.

Mary always had a love of books and participated in two book clubs. While homebound during COVID, she created a Zoom poetry community that is still going strong today. The kids could never beat her in scrabble or Wordle.

Unfortunately, in January 2012, Mary was diagnosed with invasive breast cancer which shortly metastasized to her bones and liver and four years ago to her brain. This diagnosis did not dampen her spirit but made her angry that so few people knew about stage IV and that so little research funding was focused on extending the lives of those with metastatic breast cancer (MBC). Mary was featured on numerous TV stations for her advocacy through swimming events, die-ins at the State Capitol and meetings with numerous legislators at both the federal and state level.

Though the cancer prevented Mary from continuing to run and bike and climb, she quickly took to swimming, and used her long swims tough feats for even the best athletes in lakes around the world to raise awareness for MBC. The campaign, www.onewomanmanylakes.org, has raised over $2.6 million for MBC since "Research is our Best Hope!"

Mary is survived by her husband, Rob; children, Aaron (Gillian) of Seattle, Margaret (Brian) of Cottage Grove, WI and David (Alex) of Concord, NH; along with three grandchildren, Amali, Ezra, and Luna; and sister, Susan (Jim) of Tecumseh, MI. Mary was predeceased by her parents, Clayton and Kathryn Wilson; and sister, Kathy Sheldon.

A private Jewish graveside service, officiated by Rabbi Jon Prosnit, will take place at the Farley Center Natural Path Sanctuary in Verona. There will be a Celebration of Life next summer. Of course, by a lake, swimming encouraged.

A visitation will be held at the house, 940 Timber Ridge Drive, Oregon, on Wednesday, December 4, 2024, from 12 noon to 5 p.m., Thursday, December 5, 2024, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Friday, December 6, 2024, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday, December 7,2024, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

In the Jewish tradition, we do not send flowers but instead the family requests donations in Mary's memory go to her More For Stage IV Fund at the UW Carbone Cancer Center. Go to the website, https://onewomanmanylakes.org/ and click the red DONATE button which brings up the's More For Stage IV fund.

Mary was an inspiration to all and will be sorely missed by family, friends and the entire community. Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.
 

Gunderson Oregon
Funeral & Cremation Care
1150 Park St.
(608) 835-3515