MaryAnn Smith

Mary Ann Smith peacefully passed away on January 2, 2017 at her home with her daughters, Diana and Bernadette, and nephew, Michael, by her side.

Mary Ann was born August 17, 1945 in Albuquerque to Ruben and Neph Baca of Belen, NM.  She is survived by daughters: Diana Erwin and wife, Sheri, of Tijeras, NM; Cassaundra Melgar-C’ de Baca and wife, Alba, of Austin, TX and; Bernadette Green and husband, John, of Albuquerque, NM.  Four Grandchildren:  Timothy Torres II, Teresa Torres, Daniel St. John and Anne-Marie Hughes.   Four great-grandchildren: Mandee, Londyn, Penelope and Jaxon.  Sisters: Anna Gutierrez, Eileen Brubaker, Dodie Vallejos and Bernadette C’ de Baca and their families.

Mary Ann lived a well-traveled life as a military spouse, with time spent in Arizona, Colorado, Washington and Germany, finally settling in Albuquerque in 1986.  She was a dedicated and admired employee at Sears for 24 years and TJ Maxx for 6 years until her forced retirement, due to illness, at age 71.  She befriended the people that she worked with and often spoke of them as “family”.

Mary Ann enjoyed movies of all genres, but had a soft spot for science fiction.  Without question, she was a “Trekkie” and could tell you anything you needed to know about any of the characters or series.  If you confused Raktajino as being a Romulan favorite, she would give you a look and let you know that it was a Klingon coffee and then tell you about an episode with someone else making the same mistake which caused a war-worthy moment.  She was a kid in a candy store last year when she was able to attend a Star Trek convention in Las Vegas.  She was among kindred spirits and it was heart-warming to see the joy it brought her.

Mary Ann was also a collector of Coca Cola memorabilia.  She had cans and bottles from countries all over the world and could tell you about each and every one of them.  Some she got herself, others were given to her by those who knew about her collection.  Her kitchen wall was covered with Coca Cola trays that she saw beauty in.

Mary Ann spent many years collecting Barbies.  In the last few years, she began giving them to her granddaughters because she saw the happiness it brought them when they could play with them.  She also handmade a bunch of clothes for Barbie, as well as other dolls her granddaughters have.  Mary Ann could sew anything!!  The smallest details were never a challenge for her and she very much enjoyed spending time making adorable little outfits.

Another love that Mary Ann had was her garden.  It was difficult to keep grass, but the rest of her yard was always well-cared for and in bloom with something!  She didn’t have a favorite…she loved all plants and flowers and could grow anything!  She could tell you about all of them and could also tell you who gave a specific plant or flower to her.  She adorned her garden with garden gnomes, angels and frogs. She could never have too many “things” to add to her garden.

Whether you were family or friend, if you needed her, Mary Ann would drop what she was doing to help.  She was always thinking of the people that she loved and often showed her affection in a small token of some kind.  Maybe she saw a funny magnet that made her think of you and she wanted you to have it….maybe she knew you needed a whisk and she saw one on sale…maybe you were sick and she brought you a movie…it could have been anything.  

Mary Ann was full of life and loved by those who knew her.  She had incredible strength, independence, perseverance and a fierce love for her family.  She is a beautiful soul who touched so many and her loss will leave a profound silence in many lives.