Mary Elizabeth Brandt left this world on November 28, 2021 at 90 years of age. She was a loving mother, grandmother, great grandmother and great-great-grandmother. She passed after a brief illness that proved too much for her to overcome in West Linn, Oregon.
She was born to William and (Elpaso) Florence Bastian in Portland Oregon in December 1930. She was the third child of four. Her parents and siblings, Donald, Margaret and Fred, preceded her in death.
She married when she was only 16 at the outset of the second world war to James T. Ganoe. During her marriage, she moved the growing family to various US Navy duty stations. Each of her four children were born in a different state. She is survived by three of her children, David, Dennis and Margie, her second son, Fred, having passed away in 2013. She is also survived by six grand-children and eight great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.
Mary separated from James in 1963. Eschewing alimony, she raised her children on her own. She moved the family from California back to Oregon and began a career as a USPS postal clerk from which she retired after 30 years of service. While living in Oregon, she met and married Harold Brandt. She and Harold lived in Aurora, OR for many years until they retired and decided to travel in a 5th wheel recreational vehicle. Harold passed away due to complications of diabetes while on one of their trips. Even after Harold passed, Mary continued 'snow-bird' in their 5th wheel RV spending the winter in Yuma Arizona and summer in Keizer Oregon. She later gave up the house in Yuma and permanently settled in Keizer.
While living in Keizer, Mary became involved in the Red Hat Society, establishing the Keizer Kuties chapter and serving as the Queen Bee for many years. She enjoyed the companionship and activities of her Red Hat ladies and was sad to stop when her health determined she could no longer lead the group.
A funeral service is scheduled for 2:00 pm on 15 December 2021 at the Cornwell Colonial Chapel at 390 N. 2nd in Woodburn, Oregon. She will be interred at Belle Passi Mausoleum in Woodburn with her beloved husband Harold.