Mary Louise George (née Brown) — lover of rainbows, hummingbirds and lilacs, collector of seashells and pretty rocks, champion road‑tripper, friend and mother extraordinaire — left this world on April 12th, 2026, in Moscow, Idaho after a brave fight against cancer. She will be remembered for her endless storytelling, sense of humor, and grit.

Born in November 1955 in Gardena, California to Dora and Doyle Brown, Mary easily stepped into the role of “responsible firstborn” of her family, with two younger siblings in tow. At age eight, her family moved to Bonners Ferry, Idaho, where she fell in love with the forests, rivers, and wide‑open spaces that shaped her sense of home for the rest of her life.

After graduating high school, Mary worked at the Bonners Ferry co‑op gas station, where she perfected the art of hard work, chatting with locals, and swapping stories. She married Steven George at 24, and together they raised three children in Genesee, Idaho — Tom, Janet, and Danny — who inherited her humor, her enjoyment of playing games, and love of adventure.

After moving to the Palouse in her twenties, Mary spent over 40 enjoyable years working in various roles and departments at the University of Idaho, where she also received multiple degrees. She was a fixture on campus — the kind of person people remembered because she made them feel remembered. Her outgoing personality, quick wit, and ability to make fast friends made her beloved across the university.

Mary adored and boasted about her grandchildren — Samantha (17), Ailey (15), Lane (11), and Evan (9) — and was always ready for a road trip with any combination of kids and grandkids. She loved spoiling her sweet kitties, swimming at the UI pool, getting lost in books, playing any kind of game, and she never met a Far Side comic she didn’t want to share. She told stories about helping with her in‑laws’ outfitting business, riding horses through the mountains, and the many other adventures that made up her life. She was a model of strength and independence for all her children and grandchildren.

She is survived by her father, children, her grandchildren, and her sister Brenda Hill. She is preceded in death by her mother and her brother Paul Brown.

Mary was loved by many and will be deeply missed — but she’d probably prefer that we remember her with a smile, a good story, and maybe a shimmery purple accessory.

A memorial celebration will be held in Mary’s honor on May 1, 2026, in the Vandal Ballroom at the University of Idaho Bruce M Pitman Center in Moscow, Idaho at 2:00 PM.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the University of Idaho General Scholarship Fund in Memory of Mary L. George. Gifts can be made via check to University of Idaho Foundation at 875 Perimeter Drive MS 3143, Moscow, Idaho 83843 or by visiting giving.uidaho.edu/. Online condolences may be sent to www.corbeillfuneralhomes.com