Mary Anna Gasper, age 96, passed away at her home at Davenport Place, in Silverton, Oregon, on October 12, 2026. She was surrounded in her last days by loved ones. Mary was born to Anton and Anna (Zimmerman) Pfeifer on July 4,1930, in Hays, Kansas. She was one of fourteen children. Her family moved to Silverton, Oregon, when she was a teenager. A few years later she met the love of her life, Michael Gasper, and they married on September 8, 1951. They raised eight children and were married for almost 66 years until Michael’s death in 2017. Mary was a wonderful homemaker, wife and mother. Mary enjoyed family gatherings and caring for others. She had a great sense of humor and was very talented. She was an accomplished cook, baker, and seamstress. She enjoyed embroidery, quilting, cake decorating, doll making and many other arts and crafts. Mary enrolled in beauty school in the late 1970s and was a hair stylist for a number of years.

 Mary was preceded in death by her husband Michael, son, James, and twelve siblings. She is survived by her children Ray Gasper, Steve Gasper (Terri), Michelle Bassett (Neville), Dan Gasper (Jenelle), Paul Gasper, Chris Gasper, Caroline Christiansen (Chris), six grandchildren and ten great grandchildren, as well as her sister Alice Weissenfels of Silverton. Mary lived at Davenport Place in Silverton, Oregon, the last ten years of her life. 

She enjoyed many friendships there, including with the staff. The staff are exceptional people who pour out love and compassion (with professionalism) to those who live there, as well as their families. We cannot thank them enough for he great care they provided our mom over the years and the way they showered her and our family with love in her last days.

A funeral mass will be on Friday, November 6, 2026, at 11:00 AM at St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Silverton, Oregon. A reception will follow. Arrangements by Unger Funeral Chapel in Silverton, Oregon. We would also like to extend our thanks to the staffs at Serenity Hospice and Unger Funeral Home for the incredible support they gave us.