July 21, 1953 ~ Oct. 2, 2024
Mary was born and raised in Meeker, Colorado. She lived the quintessential pioneer lifestyle helping on the farm and growing up with her siblings Frank and Jack under the guidance of her mother Audrey and father John. She spent a few years away from Meeker during her schooling at Cottey College, where she met her soulmate and the love of her life – Michael Washburn – by chance on a blind date. They fell deeply in love and were married June 19, 1971.
Mary’s roots in the community of Meeker brought them back after college where they took over the ownership of the general store A. Oldland and Company. Mary then opened a seamstress shop and served the community using her brilliant imagination and design skills working countless hours making beautiful bridal gowns and other dresses, as well as performing tailoring services. Through this experience, her love for and connections with the people of Meeker continued to blossom. She developed a passion for education and began to teach in the alternative high school, then served out the remainder of her working years as the librarian at Meeker High School. She loved to help “all her kids” in any way she possibly could, instilling her values of strength, courage, discipline and work ethic into hundreds of young adults over the years. It gave her great pleasure and purpose to know that anyone could call on “Ms. Mary” and know they would find a ready and willing aide. She also put her fantastic cooking abilities to work serving the school district and the Chuckwagon as a chef in her “retirement.”
Her immense love and affection for Michael and for her immediate family as well as the community at large showed through in everything she did, from cheering on the various sports teams to supporting the high school drama program, from membership in PEO to the Community Choir, and judging the 4-H projects at the county fair. She always told us “If you see something do something” with emphasis on doing it with kindness and compassion in your heart.
Mary passed into the company of our Lord peacefully and surrounded by loved ones, under the careful watch of the staff at the Walbridge Wing. Mary is survived by her beloved husband Michael, her son Christopher (wife Kim), daughter Keri, and daughter Sarah (husband Wilson Hahnenberg).
