Louise Karen Mackey

Louise K. Mackey, 72, of Beaverton, Ore., formerly of Sioux City, passed away suddenly Friday, April 20, 2007, at her residence.

Services will be 11 a.m. Monday at Calvary Episcopal Church in Sioux City, with the Revs. Ernest Caltvedt, Marvin Boes and Patricia Roberts officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will begin at 6 p.m. today, a prayer service at 7 p.m., with an all-night wake to follow, at the church. Arrangements are under the direction of Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel. Condolences may be sent online to www.meyerbroschapels.com.

Louise Karen Mackey was born Oct. 10, 1934, in Sioux City, to Julius Peter and Helen Grace (Williams) Katzenberger. She graduated from Central High School in 1953 and later attended Morningside College.

She married John E. Mackey Sr. on Aug. 28, 1954, in Sioux City. They met while attending Church of All Nations in the South Bottoms. He passed away Nov. 3, 2003, in Beaverton. They have two children, Karen Louise Mackey of Sioux City, and John Emmet Mackey Jr. of Beaverton.

She worked at Wincharger until the birth of her first child. She later supported her family, while John attended the University of Iowa. After he received his master's degree in 1961, they returned to Sioux City. In 1967, the family moved to West Des Moines, but returned to Sioux City within a year due to John being recalled to active duty in the U.S. Air Force. In 1976, the Mackeys moved to Oregon after John accepted a position at Portland State University.

After watching her children study Judo for years, she began Judo at the age of 40. She competed locally and nationally for several years. She competed in her last tournament while in her mid-50s and choked an 18-year-old black belt into submission to win her final match. She was promoted posthumously to fourth-degree black belt by USA Judo, a promotion that was pending at the time of her death.

She regularly traveled to Judo tournaments across the country, volunteering her time as a technical official. She taught Judo at various Portland area clubs. In addition, in the year prior to her husband's death, they both taught Judo on the Chehalis Indian Reservation in Oakville, Wash.

She was a life member of USA Judo, the United States Judo Federation (USJF) and the United States Judo Association (USJA). she was active in the Northwest Yudanshakai of USJF. She served as secretary and later vice-chair of the USJF Women's Committee. She was an athlete representative at the USA Judo board meetings for nearly a decade. She had been a member of the USA Judo's Sportswomen Section and was vice president of National Judo Oregon for many years.

While living in Sioux City, she was a member of Calvary Episcopal Church and was active in the Altar Guild.

She was delighted to be a grandmother. Her 2-year-old granddaughter, Samantha, was the light of her life along with her foster grandchildren.

She is survived by her daughter, Karen and her partner, Paula Rager of Sioux City; her son and his wife, John Jr. and Noelle of Beaverton; her sister, Marianna Cunningham of Sioux City; a granddaughter, Samantha Mackey; a stepgrandson, Geoffrey Crenshaw; and two foster grandchildren, Raonie and Raymond Pointer-Mackey, all of Beaverton.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Julius and Helen Katzenberger; her husband, Lt. Col. John E. Mackey Sr. (USAF Ret.); and a grandson, Christopher Mackey.

Pallbearers will be her nephews, James Mackey, Richard Mackey, Robert B. Mackey II and Patrick Cunningham; nieces, Joline Goosmann and Linda Kennedy; and Dr. Earl Moore and Maj. Robert Molstead (USAF Ret.).

Honorary pallbearers will be Lucy Van Valkingburg, Bonnie Keegan, Mickey Detches, Joann Mays and Cleo Trudo plus members of her extended family, Frankie Williams, her first Judo instructor, Bert Mackey, president of the NW Yudanshakai, Richard Mueller, USJF legal counsel, Dr. Ron Tripp, president of USA Judo, and Dr. AnnMaria DeMars, vice president of USJF.