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Jorgensen, Mary Louise

Mary Louise Jorgensen was born to Evelyn and Axel Jorgensen in Ord, NE on July 31, 1941. She graduated from Papillion High School in Papillion, NE and attended Dana College in Blair, NE. Mary began working with adults with developmental disabilities while she was still in college; her passion for working with these individuals lasted a lifetime. After moving to California in the mid-seventies, Mary worked for several organizations that served the population of adults with developmental disabilities. In 1985, she established Downstown, Inc. in North County, San Diego. Until her death this year, she remained its executive director. Downstown continues to serve 30 live-in residents in six homes in Vista and San Marcos, many of whom have lived at Downstown continuously since its inception. After a long and brave battle with COPD, Mary died surrounded by family on July 17, 2016. Mary is survived by her son Kaj Jorgensen, her brothers, Larry (Sharalee) and Lyle Jorgensen, as well as two nieces: Kecia Stinnett and Kira Abercromby (Andrew), and one nephew: Michael (Gina) Jorgensen. She also leaves eight great-nieces and -nephews, along with her entire Downstown family. A MEMORIAL SERVICE to honor and celebrate Mary's life is scheduled for noon on August 27, 2016, at the Thibido Community Center, 1150 Lupine Hills Rd. Vista, CA 92081. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to Downstown, Inc., P.O. Box 128, San Marcos, CA 92079.

~~~ Obituary courtesy of the Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair Public Library at Blair, Nebraska.~~~