Mary’s family moved to Pueblo, CO when she was 2 years old. She graduated from Central High School in 1940. Her parents owned a gas station across from Roselawn Cemetery. A young adventurous lad named Ralph Joseph Smith worked there and that’s where Mary & Ralph met & the rest is history. They were married on January 24th, 1942 and lived with Mary’s parents for 8 years while Ralph built the house next to them for their family to live in. They had 3 children over a 16 year period, Richard Hugh (Dick), Ralph Robert (Ralphie) and Cheryl Ann (Sherri). Mary was a homemaker while Ralph worked at the CF&I steel mill for 42 years. In their free time they enjoyed spending time with family and friends, fishing in the mountains, dancing and playing poker with friends. Mary was active in the Methodist church “circle” & Bunco club.
After the children were grown and moved away they enjoyed traveling with friends to Ireland, England, Bahamas, Las Vegas, Laughlin, Branson and various other destinations. Later in life they frequented Cripple Creek weekly where Mary enjoyed playing nickel slot machines while Ralph played poker.
Mary enjoyed her 3 children & 6 grandchildren very much & loved spending time with them as much as possible. She was also blessed with 10 great grandchildren ranging in age from 2 to 16 that she was very excited to see anytime she got the chance. She was able to enjoy the kids as they grew up, attending ballgames, school functions etc. All holiday celebrations happened at the family home on Roselawn Rd for many years & Mary always cooked, cleaned & took care of everything to make sure that everyone had a great time & could enjoy each other.
Mary had the pleasure of being a “Mom” again later in her life when Sherri had twin daughters (Cortney & Danielle) in 1989 when she was 66 years old. She watched them most every day while Sherri & Frank both worked, picked them up at school, made sure they got to all school activites, sports and dance practices, and rarely missed anything herself. She was very involved in their lives and they formed a very strong bond and the girls truly kept her “young”!!
Mary lost Ralph on July 21, 2009 after 67 years of marriage and life was never quite the same. Although she did slow down some she still enjoyed bus rides to Cripple Creek weekly & spending time with her family. She was able to continue to live in her home alone until late 2015 when it was no longer safe for her to stay there by herself.
Mary departed this life on Saturday, March 16, 2019 at the age of 96, at the Genesis Nursing Home with most of her family by her side and will be missed so very much. She was an amazing wife, mother, grandmother and friend.
Mary was preceded in death by her parents, John and Ethel Allen, brother John H Allen and husband Ralph Smith. She is survived by her 3 children, Richard (Lynn) of Denver, Ralph (Debbie) of Colorado Springs, Sherri (Frank) Crow of Pueblo. Six grandchildren – Randy (Tiffany), Craig (Amy), Brandon (Jennifer), Tara (Jake) Purdom, Danielle (Kyle) Reed, Cortney (Nick) Lewis and ten great grandchildren – Anastasia Smith, Elle, Colin & Brendan Smith, Annabelle, Will & Henry Smith, Zander, Zyler & Zoie Reed.
Services will be held April 6th, 2019 at 2 pm at Imperial Funeral Home’s Chapel with a small reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, please make memorial donations in Mary's name to Sangre de Cristo Hospice.
