Mary Rose (Hawley) Kuraspediani passed away into the loving arms of our Lord and Savior December 28, 2017, surrounded by family, she was 91. She was born July 21, 1926 in Milwaukie, Ore. to Zelda and Melvin Hawley. Mary Rose graduated from Milwaukie High School in 1944 and moved to Chicago, Ill. to attend Sherwood Music School where she received her Teaching Certificate in Piano from the school. She also met her first husband, Raymond John Gebauer while at school and married him on June 5, 1949. Sadly, he passed away unexpectedly, September 25, 1951 while she was pregnant with their firstborn son, Raymond. Mary Rose moved back to Portland, Oregon and met and married George Kuraspediani, who preceded her in death.
She obtained her Masters Degree in Teaching at Portland State University in 1969 and was a substitute teacher for many years for Portland Public Schools until she retired in 2011. Mary Rose was a lifelong Gresham resident and world traveler. She went with the Barlow High School Choir to Europe, visited The Republic of Georgia and taught English in China. She was a beloved mother to her children, grandchildren, and all who met her. Besides her accomplishments as a Mother, she spent her life teaching music and touched many lives with her passion.
Her legacy is one of a selfless life giving to others lifetime enrichments with her musical gifting’s. She continued teaching her music right up to the very end. Although Mary lived her entire life with modest means, few others can match her capacity for generosity. Money and means to our Mother was just something you shared with others in need.
She is survived by her three sons, Raymond Gebauer, Gregory Kuraspediani, David Kuraspediani, and one daughter, Theresa Cravens, as well as 11 grandchildren and 24 great grandchildren. Her daughter Tamara Kuraspediani-Arndt preceded her in death.