On Saturday, June 1, 2019, Mari Dempsey of Oregon City, Oregon passed away, surrounded by her family. Mari was born in San Diego and grew up in Southern California. She married Randall Dempsey on September 4, 1976 and together they raised a daughter and two sons. The family moved to Portland in 1995.
Education, especially math and reading, was Mari's passion. She spent many years working in elementary schools, as a librarian in California, and as an instructional assistant at Gaffney Lane Elementary school in Oregon City until her retirement in 2012. An avid reader, Mari also enjoyed crafting, especially knitting and crochet, and cooking delicious meals for her family. Mari was preceded in death by her sister, Judi, and parents Michael and Rose Nicolin. Mari is survived by her husband of 42 years, Randall Dempsey; daughter and son-in-law Rebecca and Kyle Dike; son Lucas Dempsey; son and daughter-in-law Andrew Dempsey and Courtney Baxter; grandchildren Brodie Dike, Bliss Baxter, and Leland Dempsey; sister Diana Martinez Lewis; sister-in-law Sue Martin; and sister-in-law and brother-in-law Monnie and Bill Simpson, and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
The family will hold a celebration of life later this summer.