Mary Matthews:
CLASS OF 1980
Ashland High SchoolClass of 1980
Ashland, OR
Holmes SchoolClass of 1974
Wheaton, IL
Mary's Story
Born in Wheaton, IL, the oldest girl in a family of six kids, I attended Holmes Elementary School as a kindergartener, spent two years in Catholic school (St. Mark's, then St. Luke's) finally to return to public school (Holmes) for third through sixth grade. Attended Franklin Jr High for one year when Dad decided to "Go West".
So, leaving all our friends and only life we knew, Dad packed us into a Pontiac stationwagon and the family of eight made our way to Ashland Oregon. The two dogs were sent out on a plane later. I think the dogs got the better part of the deal.
I attended Ashland Middle School and got my first job at age 14 at the Oregon Shakespearean Festival as a "Tart Girl". We were outfitted in Elizabethan garb with a tray strapped over our shoulders, and walked around the outdoor theatre selling authentic English toffees (Callard & Bowzer) and freshly made pecan tarts to patrons. I was then promoted to selling souvenirs and program guides for the Festival's Tudor Guild Gift shop before performances. My final step up the Festival ladder was being hired by the house management group reffered then as the "Red Coats". The entire organization felt like one huge family - stage crew, actors, directors, performers - it was probably the best way to get work experience I could have imagined.
I graduated Ashland High in 1980, soon after (1982) married my husband, Matt, who I had been dating for 4 years. In the fall of 1982 we opened a computer store with his former band mate. We were one of the first places in the Rogue Valley to sell the new fangled thing called a Commodore VIC-20, and then the Commodore-64. We went on to sell Kaypro, Corona, Compaq, HP, you name it, we sold & supported it!
Well, 26 years and two children later (Chris - now 23, Jennie, 18) we are both still in the computer/IT business, although we got out of the whole retail scene, and still in Ashland. Matt works in the IT Department for a large retirement/assisted living facility management organization based in Medford, and I a...Expand for more
m a project manager for a managed hosting facility based in Eugene.
When I'm not working I am usually found in the kitchen (or by the BBQ), cooking, baking, marinating, basting, chopping, or mixing something. It doesn't matter what kind of food it is, Mexican, French, Italian, Thai, Chinese, BBQ, Southern US, I'm always game to try out new recipes. My husband jokes that if it is complicated and takes hours then that's when I'm the happiest. But he's not complaining when he settles down to a big batch of Chicken & Sausage Gumbo, or Babyback ribs!
Our son, Chris, is a talented musician like his father and paternal grandfather. He is attending Southern Oregon University working on his music major. He started out on piano (playing jazz mostly) and has expanded his repertoire to include just about every percussion instrument you have heard of, and several that almost no one has heard of! Marimbas, tabla, timpani, xylophone... those are just the ones I can safely remember/name. He has recently joined my husband's rock band (playing 70-80-90's classics of course!) as their drummer.
Jennie has turned out to be quite an accomplished horsewoman. After participating in the Equestrian 4-H competition for years (and has quite a few ribbons and trophies to show for it), she has turned her training to focus on the cutting discipline - from what I understand this entails locating and keeping a cow separated from the herd and moving it to a designated area. Currently has three horses, one old retired appy (her first horse), and young 3-4yr old appy she got as a colt and has trained but looking to sell since he's not her dream cutting horse. And her latest addition is a 5yr old quarterhorse mare, nicknamed "Sis". Her registered name is funny: Chunky Bella Lena. You can find videos of her on her various horses on YouTube.
Both of the kids are also graduates from Ashland High, so maybe you'll see them on the site some day!
That's about it for now. I'm hoping to find some of my old Wheaton chums hanging out here!
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