Mary A Phelan

January 23, 1935 to December 8, 2020

Nine Sisters and 2 Brothers

Mom was born Mary Alleen Ashworth in Yerrington, NV on January 23, 1935 to Charles and Nellie Mae Ashworth. The oldest of 5 girls, she took care of Velma, Vera, Millie and Virgie after their mother left. She graduated from Tucson High School in 1953. On August 7, 1953 she married Thomas Eli Phelan, the first of three times! Together they had 6 children; Chuck, Cathy, Tom, Vickye, Tim and later adopting her nephew Billy. In 1972, Mary helped her stepmother Gloria Ashworth, whom she considered a sister, move her 6 half-siblings to Tucson; Julia, Elena, Carlos, Teresa, Gloria, and Tommy with Nannette being born here.

Mary worked as a secretary for Bell/AT&T Communications until 1986. After her husband’s death in 1989, she moved to Alpine, AZ becoming involved in local politics. She worked with (actually harassed) the Forestry Service, Bureau of Land Management, Sanitation/Septic Board and Education Board. She helped secure the land rights to build the Alpine Elementary School. She died at her daughter’s home on December 8, 2020 due to a litany of medical issues.

She is survived by six of her sisters and two brothers; Vera Cassel, Julia Ashworth-Sharpe, Elena Valdez, Teresa Norsagaray, Gloria Almazan, Nannette Villarreal, Carlos Ashworth and Tommy Ashworth. Mary has five surviving children; Charles Phelan, Catherine Fronabarger, Thomas Phelan, Victoria Arnold and Timothy Phelan. William Phelan preceded mom in death. She has 12 surviving grandchildren except Richard Donathan, 14 great-grandchildren and 8 great-great-grandchildren.

She Loved Them All

Due to a large number of friends and family members that are ill services are being postponed until her 86 birthday, January 23, 2021.