Mary Esquivel Lanier

On November 4, 2023, Mary Lanier, 83, of Seal Beach, California, passed away at the Los Alamitos Medical Center following an extended illness. She was preceded in death by her parents, Leo and Rose Esquivel of Wilmington, California; her husband of 46 years, Don, and her oldest son, Tim. Mary is survived by her youngest son, Damon, and his wife, Lisa.

Mary was an avid league bowler, oil painter, and traveler. She and Don spent many happy days in Catalina and with friends aboard cruise ships bound for beautiful destinations. Mary was famous for her organizational skills and made her family laugh with her ability to find even the most obscure document. Once at a family brunch, talk turned to pair of cowboy boots her son purchased decades ago when he was in college and how much the boots cost. Without saying a word, Mary quietly opened her wallet and took out the receipt, “You mean these boots?” When the laughter died down, someone asked why she kept the receipt all these years, to which she replied, “You liked the boots, so I thought you might want to get another pair one day.”

Caring for her family was a priority for Mary, and she served as a booster and team mom for several of her son’s sports teams while proudly cheering him on from the stands, often while wearing her own “Lanier’s Mom” jersey. In her later years, following the passing of her husband, Mary enjoyed quieter pursuits such as dinners out with “the kids,” weekly hair and nail appointments with old friends, and tea time with beloved neighbors.

While Mary Lanier will be missed by her family and friends, they all know she has joined her adoring husband Don for many more adventures, so they smile at the thought of them together again and promise to do their best to stay organized.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.westminstermemorial.net for the Lanier family.