Mary E (Whelan) Gorham

Mary E. Gorham of Hermiston, Oregon, was born on September 29, 1979 in Umatilla, Oregon to parents, James and Susan (McArthur) Whelan. She died on January 9, 2026 in Hermiston, Oregon at the age of 46 years. Mary attended school in Stanfield, Oregon where she was an enthusiastic student, participating in FFA and raising and showing pigs. She graduated from Stanfield High School in the class of 1997. Mary then earned her bachelor’s degree from Eastern Oregon University in 2001 and that fall began her teaching career at West Park Elementary School in Hermiston, Oregon. She loved her students like her own and always went above and beyond to help them succeed and to make sure they knew that she cared. Mary married Corey Gorham in August of 2003 and to this union they have 2 daughters: Renna and Maggie. She cherished the time raising her daughters and teaching as well as enjoying her time gardening and planning events for others. 

She is survived by her husband, Corey Gorham; daughters: Renna and Maggie Gorham; parents: Jim and Susan Whelan; sister: Stacy Ordway (Ryan, Andrew); brother: Chris Whelan (Irene, Savannah & Charles); father-in-law and mother-in-law: Greg and Wren Gorham.

Mary was preceded in death by her grandparents: Harold and Ruby McArthur and James and Marjorie Whelan; and sister-in-law: Stacy Gorham.   

As per Mary’s wishes an informal gathering for family & friends will be held on Saturday, January 24, 2026 from 1:00 P.M. until 3:00 P.M. at West Park Elementary School.           

Please memories of Mary with her family at burnsmortuaryhermiston.com

Burns Mortuary of Hermiston, Oregon is in care of arrangements. 

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