GORRELL, Mary (GOJACK): Died 1985

GORRELL, GOJACK, SEMLER, WHITAKER, HIXSON, BECKER

Posted By: Volunteer: Sherri
Date: 4/19/2022 at 18:13:32

**Handwritten: LR 21 Nov 1985 p. 2

MARY GOJACK GORRELL

Mary Gojack Gorrell died at Washoe Medical Center, Reno, Nevada, on November 13, 1985 at the age of 49. She was born February 19, 1936 near Hillsboro, Iowa to Sam and Leona Semler Whitaker. She graduated from Hillsboro High School in 1953 and moved to Nevada in 1954.

She received her bachelors degree in history, political science and secondary education from the University of Nevada-Reno and her masters degree in political science.

She had a productive career as a legislator in the Nevada State Assembly and Senate. During her years there, Mary was instrumental in the development of legislation in Such diverse and importan areas as compensation for victims of crime, ethics in government, land use planning, women's issues and remvoal of the sales tax on food.

Mary was also involved in numerous educational and cultural activities, including the Nevada Opera Association, Business and Professional Women, the Sierra Arts Foundation, the Anne Martin Women's Political Caucas, American Association of University Women and others. She was active on a variety of university committees, including the College of Arts and Science Advisory Board.

She was recently designated a Distinguished Nevadan by the University of Nevada System Board of Regents and this award was presented to her family during memorial services held in Reno.

Survivors include her husband. Dr. Robert Gorrell; two children, Patricia Hixson of Reno and John Hixson of San Francisco, California; a brother, William of Hillsboro, and a sister, Patricia Becker of Watertown, Wisconsin. She was preceded in death by a brother, Sam Whitaker, Jr.

The body has been donated to the University of Nevada-Reno Medical College. Committal services for the cremains will be at a later date in the Hillsboro Cemetery.

A scholarship in her memory has been established at the University of Nevada-Reno.

Source: "Scrapbook 1981 - 1985", Pg. 242,
Keosauqua Public Library, Keosauqua, Van Buren Co., IA