Mary Catherine Holland Stratton
Obituary
Mary Catherine Holland Stratton was born December 31, 1954 in Los Angeles, CA and died September 4, 2024 in Clovis, CA. Mary, known to her many friends as Ms. Mary, lived in Healdsburg from 1987 to 2004. She moved there with her new husband Mick Stratton as it was his hometown. Mary fell in love with the lifestyle and the people of her adopted town.
Mary had a deep affection for children and served them as a Montessori teacher and teacher trainer for over 40 years. One of her greatest joys in life was feeding a gathering of friends (she was a self-taught master chef) and the conversation and music that would inevitably accompany it. She was a lover of life, of people and someone who never backed down from a challenge. Mary ran 4 Montessori schools, a Montessori teacher training program, a catering company and headed up the Healdsburg Family Playground project. She remained a Healdsburg resident until 2004 when opportunities pulled her away.
She is survived by her husband Mick Stratton, son Tyler Ford, grandson Jaxon Ford, Brothers Martin Holland of Idaho and Michael Holland of Nevada, Sister Karen Gerring of Mexico and innumerable friends, students and colleagues who will miss her dearly.
Published in Healdsburg Tribune · October 10, 2024