Obituary of Lorna Mae Mahar

Lorna Mae Mahar March 14, 1950-April 7, 2023 Lori Mahar passed away at her home in Kelseyville after a courageous fight with cancer on April 7, 2023, with her husband of 47 years, Steve and son, Keefe by her side. Lori was born in Oakland, California and grew up in Hayward. As a child she knew she wanted to be a teacher and often played “school” with the neighborhood children. She graduated from Hayward High School in 1968. She worked for the Military Sealift Command in Alameda for a few years before going to Cal State Hayward to get her bachelor’s degree. After graduation, she worked as a student teacher in Castro Valley while earning her full teaching credential. Lori and Steve moved to Lake County in 1982 for her first job as a fully credentialed teacher. Once they arrived in Lake County, they never left, though she forever rooted for the Oakland Athletics. Lori taught 3rd grade for over 30 years at Kelseyville Primary and Riviera Elementary, focusing on hands-on science projects and interactive learning. Some of her proudest achievements as a teacher included initiating the Science Fair with her colleagues at Kelseyville Primary, starting a recycling program at the school, and receiving the “Teacher of the Year” award. When Lori wasn’t teaching, she loved traveling around the western United States and Canada. She enjoyed being out in nature and observing wildlife and was committed to environmental issues in her local community and around the planet. Anyone who met Lori knew that she loved all dogs, but wolves in particular. Some of her favorite spots included the Smith River, Fort Bragg, and always coming home to beloved Lake County. She is preceded in death by her father Marvin “Babe” Lewis, Mother Ruth Lewis, brother Donny Lewis and brother-in-law Mike Mahar. She is survived by her husband Stephen Mahar, sister Nancy WIlliams, son Keefe Mahar (Michelle Stephens), and brothers-in-law, John Mahar (Sandy) and Kevin Mahar. She will be missed by her numerous nieces and nephews and all of the students she taught through the years. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Nature Conservancy in California or your local animal shelter.