Mabel Stogsdill

Mabel was born on June 10, 1942. She was the daughter of Avelino Garcia and Delodia Baca Garcia, the eighth of their nine surviving children. Mabel grew up on her father's ranch in New Mexico where she spent her time causing trouble with her siblings and cousins and reading Hollywood gossip magazines. She grew up speaking Spanish at home and learned English in elementary school. Mabel graduated with her high school diploma and decided to join the Army so she could see the world. Mabel had many happy stories about her adventures in those days, and she traveled all over the United States, meeting Roger Stogsdill in a coffee shop in the summer of 1962.

Mabel later reached the rank of Sergeant and was honorably discharged shortly after her marriage to Roger in 1963 (it was a quietly known fact that, as a Sergeant, she had out-ranked him during their shared military service). Their marriage led to Debbie in 1964 and Leanne in 1981. During that time Mabel went back to school and completed her associates degree, working briefly as a nursing assistant. She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and friend. She loved books, music, animals, and children. She was honest and true to herself. We loved her.