Mary Anne Railsback

January 15, 1923 - September 27, 2018

Mary Anne was born January 15, 1923 on a farm 8 miles west of Anthony, Kansas. She was the oldest of 5 children, Margaret, Leo, Bernard and Jim, born to her parents, Raleigh L. and Anna D. Kastens. All have preceded her in death. She attended Cathedral High School in Wichita one year, then returned to Anthony where she graduated from Anthony High School in 1941. After high school, she attended Sacred Heart College and began teaching kindergarten in Harper County during wartime in 1942. She held some clerical jobs after the war, then went to Northern Colorado State University in Greeley Colorado where she took more Education classes and she met Russel at a square dance event. They married July 13,1957 and moved to Las Vegas, Nevada where she and Russ taught school. Their two children, Marc Railsback and Rita (Railsback) Flatz were born there in Las Vegas. In 1962 they moved to Corvallis, Oregon to fulfill a lifelong dream of living in the lush Willamette Valley instead of hot, dusty Las Vegas. Mary Anne had the privilege of staying home with Marc and Rita until 1967 when she returned to teaching Kindergarten half-time at Fairplay school and later on at Dixie school in the Corvallis School District, retiring in 1983. In addition, she dedicated herself to serving as a teacher for Catechism classes for children at St. Mary’s for 9 years. In retirement Mary Anne enjoyed camping all over Oregon with Russ and even taking their grandsons on a camping trip to Colorado one summer. Mary Anne loved animals, babies and children, but especially her own grandchildren, Jacob, Mitchell, Joy and Claire Flatz and Noelle Railsback. Her Catholic faith was a foundation in her life, and we are confident she is enjoying the reunion with the Lord and her family members who have gone before her. Family and friends are invited to her Funeral Service, 11:00 am Friday, October 5, 2018 at St. Mary's Catholic Church, 501 NW 25th Street, Corvallis. Please share your thoughts and memories for the family at www.demossdurdan.com.