Maria McCune

Maria Torres McCune, 84, passed away on Thursday, November 27, 2014 in Salt Lake City, Utah, surrounded by her husband and family. Maria was born on July 2, 1930 in Salt Lake City, Utah to Agustina Rivera and Manuel Sanchez Torres. She attended South High School and the University of Utah, where she studied medical terminology. She also studied music at the McCune School of Music in Salt Lake City. Maria served an LDS mission to the Central America mission from 1953 to 1955. There she met her sweetheart, fellow missionary Conwell Clayton McCune. They were married in the Salt Lake Temple on August 9, 1957. They were blessed with six children whom they raised in Yorba Linda, California. She and Conwell also lived for many years in Portland, Oregon.

Maria was known for her beautiful singing voice, her love of music and her talent as an artist. Family was also very important to Maria. She was a devoted wife and mother. She was proud of her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews, supporting them in all of their efforts. She and her husband attended many of their blessings, baptisms, mission farewells, and weddings.

Maria loved her family and serving in the LDS Church. As an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, she had the opportunity to serve as president in many of its organizations. She also served as an early morning seminary teacher for more than ten years and influenced the lives of many young people in the Church.

Missionary work was important to Maria and she was never hesitant to share the Gospel with friends and neighbors. She served faithfully alongside her husband, Conwell, in several missionary assignments. From 1991 to 1994, they presided over the LDS Mexico Tampico mission. From 1996 to 1998 they served as missionaries of the LDS Singapore mission, where they labored in Pakistan and Malaysia. In 2000 to 2002, they presided over the LDS Santiago Chile Missionary Training Center. Maria’s love of missionary work inspired many of her children and grandchildren to serve full-time missions, as well.

Maria is survived by her husband, Conwell Clayton McCune, her sister Elena Torres, her children, Victoria Anderson (Bryce), Vivian Love (William), Valerie Albrechtsen (Brad), Matthew McCune (Suzie), and Mark McCune (Stefani). She is also survived by 22 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her parents and her in-laws, William Welby McCune, Sr. and Constance Vivian Clayton McCune. She is also preceded in death by her daughter Vanette Lynn McCune, her sister Rebecca Chavez, her brother Antonio Torres, and her brother Jose Torres.

A viewing will be held at Russon Brothers Mortuary, 1941 N. Main St., Farmington, Utah on Tuesday, December 2, 2014 from 6 – 8 pm. A memorial service will be held on December 6, 2014 at 3 pm at Happy Valley LDS Chapel, 10300 SE 132nd Ave, Happy Valley, Oregon. A viewing will also be held prior to the memorial service from 11 am – 12 pm at Finley-Sunset Hills Mortuary, 6801 SW Sunset Hwy, Portland, Oregon. Interment will be at the Finley-Sunset Hills Cemetery, in Portland, Oregon. The family would like to express their gratitude and deep appreciation to all those who gave Maria such love and care at St. Joseph Villa in Salt Lake City, Utah. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the Huntsman Cancer Center and the LDS General Missionary Fund.