Mary Louise Hendricks, age 83, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, April 28, 2026. She was born on January 11, 1943 in Tabor, Iowa to Dr. W. D. and Mary Alice Cotter and was known by her nickname, Susie. She graduated from Fremont-Mills High School in Tabor, attended Iowa State University, and then transferred to University of New Mexico where she received her bachelor’s degree in secondary education.
She taught in the public secondary schools in New Mexico. From her first marriage she had three children who were raised in Alamogordo. She was a devoted mother who volunteered her time to Brownies, Girl Scouts, 4-H, and soccer and encouraged her children to find purpose and joy in their lives.
Mary Louise began her adult education career in Alamogordo teaching English as a Second Language and GED completion at the New Mexico State University-Alamogordo campus. She later became the program coordinator for the program and then obtained a Masters in School Administration from NMSU in Las Cruces, NM.
In 1989 Mary Louise moved to Ann Arbor, Michigan to pursue a doctorate in adult education at the University of Michigan that she completed in 1994.
An administrative position at Rogue Community College (RCC) brought her to Grants Pass, Oregon in 1995 where she worked until her retirement in 2006. She began her work at RCC as the Adult Basic Director for Josephine, Jackson and Klamath counties. She then held a variety of positions at RCC, including as Interim Dean of Student Services, Dean of Developmental Studies, and Executive Dean of the Riverside Campus in Medford. She was very passionate about the field of adult education and promoted it locally and at the state level where she held several offices in the state adult education association, serving as chair in 1999. In addition, she was involved in a number of state adult education task force and research groups.
Mary Louise met her second husband, Ted Hendricks, in Grants Pass and they were married in 2004. After five wonderful years of traveling and being companions to each other, Ted died in 2009. In addition to spending time with her children and grandchildren, she loved digital scrapbooking, bridge, Bunco and gardening.
Mary Louise is survived by her three children: Mary Kristin (Brian) Koch, Carolee (Todd) Dewars, and Monte (Michelle) Doran and six grandchildren: Michael and Mary Lauren Koch, Ella and Briar Dewars, and Andrew and Allison Doran. She is also survived by her brother, Darrell (Audrey) Cotter from Kansas City. She was preceded in death by her parents and brother, Donald Cotter of Tabor, Iowa.
Family will receive friends on Saturday, May 9th, 2026 at Robison-Bahnmiller Funeral Home in Saline, Michigan. Visitation and refreshments will begin at 2:00 P.M. and a Celebration of Life at 3:00 P.M.
Memorial contributions may be made to support student scholarships in her honor through the Rogue Community College Foundation. Donations may be made online (please note the scholarship name: RCC Memorial Fund Scholarship), or by mail to: RCC Foundation, 3345 Redwood Hwy. Bldg. H, Grants Pass, OR 97527.
Arrangements entrusted to Robison-Bahnmiller Funeral Home, Saline. Memories of Mary and condolences for the family may be shared at www.rbfhsaline.com.