Mary J. Michael Memorial Scholarship

The Mary J. Michael Scholarship Endowment at Idaho State University’s College of Technology was established by her daughter, Wanda Sue Light, in memory of her mother.
Mary J. Michael was born on November 24, 1921 in Competition, Missouri, the daughter of Cecil and Eppah Jordan. As a child, she moved with her family to Caldwell, Idaho, where she graduated from high school. She lived in Blackfoot, Idaho for a time before moving to Sandpoint, Idaho in 1952.
From about 1954 until 1963 Michael supported herself and her three daughters by working as a legal secretary for Hardy Lyons and for the Selective Service Board. She later worked for SAFECO and Chicago Title and Trust Co., retiring in 1987. Gene Michael, her husband of 30 years, lives in Sandpoint, Idaho.
“Always completing a job to the best of her ability made her a great role model and teacher for me, my sisters, and those she came into contact with. She taught us the value of respect, honesty and hard work,” said Light.
Michael was a member of the United Methodist Church, the churchwomen’s organization, and was a life member of Beta Sigma Phi. Her hobbies included gardening, photography, enjoying flowers, and serving other people.
This endowment will provide a scholarship for a student in the Office Technology Program.