Mary C. Hynek was born in Hillsboro, Wisconsin on August 6. 1905. She grew up and attended schools there. She received a teaching certificate in 1923 and began teaching in Illinois. She then moved to Klamath Falls, Oregon and began teaching elementary school in the community. While teaching in Klamath Falls she met Melvin Weberg. Melvin was born in Salem, Oregon on Aug. 12, 1891 and as a youngster came to the Suplee country near the town of Paulina. His parents established a ranch at Suplee.

Mary and Melvin became romantically involved and were married on June 30, 1936. They moved to live at the ranch of his parents at Suplee. Mary could not teach at rural schools as it was not allowed for married women to teach at that time. She adjusted to the life of a rancher’s wife and was an active participant in many of the ranch activities. They had two sons born while living at the ranch.

Mary determined that it was best for her sons to attend schools in Prineville so she spent school terms living in Prineville with her boys. She was able to again teach while in Prineville and taught elementary school for several years. They would return to the ranch on weekends and during summer vacation. This arrangement for living in Prineville continued from 1945 until her youngest son graduated from high school in 1960. At that time she returned full-time to the ranch.

Mary became very interested in writing and began putting stories of ranch life to paper. She had several stories published in magazines and the tales were always popular with her family. She wrote a manuscript on her marriage and ranching life.

Melvin passed away on Sept. 15, 1973. Mary continued to live at the ranch with her sons Lawrence and Bill managing the operations. Poor health resulted in her moving from the ranch to Prineville in 1983. She remained active in various social organizations and continued her writing. She won first prize in a writing contest sponsored by the Bend Bulletin in 1990. Several of her stories are part of the collections of the Bowman Museum in Prineville. Mary passed away on Jan. 12, 1991. Both Mary and Melvin are buried in Juniper Haven Cemetery in Prineville.

Contributed by Steven Lent, Historian