Mary Katherine (Humphreys) Steeves, better known to her friends as Mary Kay Steeves, passed away at her home in Burns on Feb. 16, 2025, at the age of 86.

She was born in Portland, on July 19, 1938, to Lester and Mary E. (Raddon) Humphreys, and graduated as a member of Lincoln High School’s class of 1956. She attended classes at the University of Oregon and at Oregon State College after high school, and it was in Corvallis that she met and fell in love with Joseph Steeves.

They were married in December of 1958, and have forever after been linked simply as “Joe and Mary Kay.” They raised three sons, and were strong supporters of the boys’ school activities, from Little League Baseball through numerous high school sports and even school plays and spelling bees. That support and love carried down into the next generations as they are beloved by their grandchildren and great-grandchildren as well.

The family moved numerous times throughout Oregon, living in Coos Bay, Mt. Vernon, Brookings, Bandon, and La Grande. Joe and Mary Kay moved to Burns in 1994 and made strong connections and friendships in Harney County.

Hunting, fishing, and camping were all important aspects of the family’s life, and Mary Kay is remembered for her abilities as a cook, even when using a campfire and a cast iron Dutch oven to make huckleberry cobbler. And she seldom complained about having to share a tent with four smelly male family members afterwards. When Mary Kay joined in the hunt, she proved herself quite proficient with a rifle.

She worked outside the home for several banks, dental, and medical offices, including Harney District Hospital. Mary Kay’s friends will remember her positive, happy attitude and for the stories about her life and her family that she loved so much. Joe preceded her in death in 2019; her sister, Leslie Odam, died just a year ago.

She is survived by her sons: Phil Steeves, and daughter-in-law, Ann Steeves, of Oceanside, Calif.; Chuck Steeves, and daughter-in-law, Tina Steeves, of Crane; and John Steeves, and daughter-in-law, Kris Steeves, of Corvallis; plus eight grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. Her entire family misses her, but is overjoyed to know that Nana is back together with our “Papa Joe.”

There will be a funeral mass at 10 a.m. on Saturday, April 5, 2025, at Holy Family Catholic Church, 678 N. Egan Ave., in Burns, Oregon. Following the services, there will be a fellowship luncheon at the Parish Hall.