Mary Ann Wood, life-long resident of the North San Diego area passed away late in the evening on January 2, 2019. Born into the pioneering Wiegand family, Mary Ann was the daughter of Herman and Mary Wiegand.
She led a long and fulfilled life serving her community. She was involved in Scouts, 4H, FFA, CowBelles, PTA, San Dieguito Heritage Museum and many church activities. She loved to sing and was a member of St. Mark’s Lutheran church choir and a local group called the Nightingales.
She loved her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren and delighted in their activities. She helped and mentored many other young people.
She grew up on the family ranch at the head of the San Elijo Lagoon. She began her love of horses at the age of seven, riding alongside her father and caring for their cattle. Some of her favorite mounts were Sunshine, Dandy, Gypsy and Ezekiel, the mule.
Mary Ann loved to garden and was a great cook. Her produce and home canned creations garnered many blue ribbons at the Del Mar Fair. She enjoyed holiday gatherings and organized ranch barbeques for hundreds of family and friends.
She was very interested in preserving family memories and oral histories and was a member of the Life Story writing group for many years compiling a rich history of the Wiegand family and the San Dieguito and Olivenhain area. She was active in establishing the San Dieguito Heritage Museum and served as a docent.
She was a member of one of the earliest classes of San Dieguito High School, graduating in 1938. At her suggestion, the Mustang was chosen as the new school’s mascot. After graduation, she worked for local doctors, was the first woman teller at the Encinitas Bank of America and was secretary to the head of pari-mutuel racing at the “new” Del Mar Racetrack.
On March 16, 1942 she married James Wood in Bremerton, Washington where he was stationed at the start of World War II. After the war, they established a new home near her family, eventually moving to the Wiegand Ranch where she raised cattle, sheep and hogs. Jim and Mary Ann were married for seventy-two years. Jim passed away in 2014.
Mary Ann leaves a rich legacy of her written memories and compiled many recollections of her father Herman Wiegand. She leaves behind her son James Byron Wood, Jr. and her daughter Kathleen Wood Vieira, four grandchildren and nine great grandchildren.
Donations may be made to the San Dieguito Heritage Museum, 450 Quail Gardens Drive, Encinitas, California 92024 or the Olivenhain Pioneer Cemetery C/O Mary Beth Hayashi, 2233 Denk Lane, Encinitas, California 92024
Graveside services will be conducted at the Olivenhain Cemetery at 11:00 am, Tuesday January 22, 2019. (Be prepared for rain.) A gathering at the Olivenhain Meeting Hall will follow.
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