Mary Kay (McBee) Koch

Mary Kay McBee Koch died May 31, 2026, in Pendleton, Oregon. She was born in Pendleton on November 22, 1931, to Dr. Gilbert L. and Birdine A. (Johnson) McBee. She attended school in Pendleton, where she graduated with high honors in 1949. She then went to the University of Oregon, joined Delta Gamma sorority (and became a lifelong Duck fan) until she transferred to what is now known as the Oregon Health Sciences University, graduating in 1954 with a Bachelor of Sciences in Nursing. The highlight of her time at OHSU was meeting her husband, Dr. Richard Koch, who was a medical student there. They were married on December 27, 1952, in Pendleton, Oregon. Both had 18 months of schooling left, and after graduation, both moved to San Francisco, California, to begin their careers at the Southern Pacific Railroad Hospital. Because her father made her promise to never join a union when he was dying of cancer in 1947, she was always on the graveyard shift as she had to quit and get rehired every thirty days or join the union. After her husband’s residency, they moved to Pendleton and heard of an opportunity to start a practice in Pilot Rock, Oregon, which became their lifelong home. Mary helped to set up the practice and worked as the office manager and nurse until a week before her first daughter was born. Mary then devoted herself to being a housewife and mother. Mary always devoted herself to service, from her school days when she helped sell war bonds for World War II, to being in many clubs until graduation. As an adult, she was in P.E.O. Chapter CM, a member of the Episcopal Church of the Redeemer in Pendleton, the Umatilla County Historical Society, Current Lit, Round-Up Republican Women, among many other committees and organizations in Umatilla County. Mary enjoyed her family, her friends, and the many family dogs and horses. Her nursing abilities came in handy when she assisted her daughters with their horses, bandaging and giving shots. She also functioned as a proxy for her husband when he was out of town, giving medical treatment with directions from him over the phone. An example was when Dr. Koch was out of the country, one of the star basketball players for Pilot Rock had abscessed tonsils right before the big tournament and she gave him a shot. The player not only recovered enough to play but was on the state all-tournament team and Pilot Rock was second in the Oregon State 2A Tournament. She did love the Pilot Rock Rockets. Survivors include her daughters, Mary Ann Low and Susan Talbot, sister-in-law Carolyn McBee of Pendleton, grandchildren Richard (Kim) Low of Hermiston, Tim Low (Jackie) Low of Pendleton, Jake Talbot (Jessica) of Burns, and Jackie Talbot of Pendleton, great-granddaughters Parker and Baylor Low and Brooklyn Bishop, nieces and nephews Kathy Chadwell of Cannon Beach, John (Debbie) McBee of Pendleton, Pat McBee (Lisa) of Lake Oswego, Richard (Alisha) of Texas, and Marilyn (Randy) Martell of Pendleton, Peter Koch II of The Dalles, Johanna (Bob) Dillard, and Gretchen Koch of Salem. She predeceased by her brother John, her brothers-in-laws and wives Ray (Donna and Diane) Koch and Norman (Jane and Modeen) Koch, as well as many beloved dogs and horses. Services will include a graveside internment at Pilot Rock Cemetery on Thursday, June 18th at 7:00 p.m. A funeral will be held at the Episcopal Church of the Redeemer in Pendleton on Friday, June 19th at 10:00 a.m. Donations may be sent to the charity of one’s choice.