Mary Ross Washburn

Mary Ross Washburn, 73, of Fort Sumner, NM loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother passed away Friday, January 2, 2009 at Lubbock Heart Hospital, after suffering from a heart attack. She is survived by her husband of 54 years, Gerry D. Washburn of the family home in Ft. Sumner NM, 5 children Gerry C. Washburn and wife Audrey of Los Alamos, NM; Scott Washburn and wife Deirdre of Floyd, NM; Cindy Terry of Floyd, NM; Debbie Paul of Clovis, NM; Bruce Washburn and wife Crystal of Raton, NM; 14 grandchildren, and 19 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her twin sister Leila Kyle of Dallas, Texas (formerly from Ft. Sumner), a sister-in-law Gloria Jenkins of Tucumcari, NM along with many nieces and nephews on both sides of the family. In addition she is survived by all the kids she “adopted” into her heart over the years and took care of and her caretakers for herself and her husband, Connie Mobley and Lupe Arriola both of Ft. Sumner. Mary was preceded in death by her parents, a brother James Henry Jenkins, a nephew Billy Jeff Kyle and a brother-in-law Red Kyle. She was a retired public educator from Floyd, Tucumcari, and Ft. Sumner schools. She taught kindergarten through 12th grade touching many kids with her loving heart. After her husband retired from public education they moved from Tucumcari to Ft. Sumner, her place of birth, where she enjoyed working on their 7 acres, planting flowers, and feeding anyone who happened to drop by for a visit. Visitation will be held at the funeral home on Monday and Tuesday from 1pm to 6pm. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 am Wednesday, January 7, 2008 from the First United Methodist Church in Fort Sumner with Rev. Keith Niehaus officiating. Burial will follow at Fort Sumner Cemetery. Pallbearers will be her grandsons Shenandoah Terry, Shiloh Terry, Gerry Thomas Washburn, Zach Washburn, Caleb Washburn, Grant Washburn, Blake Washburn and Ethan Washburn. Honorary bearers will be Mary's granddaughters Jennifer Cain and husband Steven, Kayti Herring, Rosemary Washburn, Allison Washburn, Maegan Paul, Jordan Paul, granddaughters-in-law Jamie Washburn, Stacey Washburn, Michelle Terry and her 19 great-grandchildren. The family prefers memorial contributions in Mary's memory to the Salvation Army; P.O. Box 900, Clovis, NM 88102. Arrangements are under the direction of Chavez Funeral Home 830 N. Fifth Street; Fort Sumner, NM. (575) 355-2311. To place an online tribute or sign the guest book please visit www.chavezfuneralhome.com