Mary Salopek

Mary Winifred Ikard Salopek, our beloved Mother, Grandmother, Great-Grand Mother, Sister, Aunt, Friend and Golfing Partner embarked on the greatest journey of her life on October 2, 2023 at the age of 89. Mama Mary was surrounded with so much love, worship, laughter and peace in her last days at her farmhouse.

She was born to Amzi and Winifred Wareing Ikard on November 24, 1933 in El Paso, Texas. Her family were long time residents of Anthony, New Mexico. The Ikard family started and operated several family businesses, namely the Anthony Mercantile, Ikard and Newsom Propane, Ikard’s Furniture Store and Citizens Bank of Las Cruces.

Mary graduated from Loretto Academy in 1951, attended Incarnate Word in San Antonio for two years, then transferred to the University of Colorado in Boulder where she earned her Bachelor of Science Degree in Elementary Education. After college, Mary moved back to Las Cruces and married the love of her life, Tom Salopek. Together they raised their six children: Thomas Richard, William David, Michael John, Louie Joseph, Mary Therese, and Katherine Ann on the family farm in the north valley. Tom and Mary, along with their sons, grew the family farm into a successful pecan farming business with continued operations to this day.

Mary was known to be ahead of her time for always championing women in leadership; her father engrained in her that women should be educated, and she carried forward that sentiment by promoting women’s involvement in sports, schooling, leadership councils and more. One of Mary’s greatest achievements was serving on the Las Cruces Public Schools Board, both as a Member and President. She also served on other boards throughout the community including: the New Mexico Farm and Ranch Board, Memorial Medical Foundation Association, Citizens Bank Board of Directors, and was selected by International Harvester to represent eight western states in Chicago for a Forum where she was interviewed by the Chicago Tribune. She was known to be philanthropic throughout her lifetime, which was often expressed by her ability to coordinate fundraisers. Her pride and joy was establishing the First Step Golf Tournament which was held annually for ten years. After Mary’s mother battled cancer in the 1980’s, the Ikard family realized the community need for accessible cancer treatment locally. Thus, Mary and her siblings founded the Ikard Cancer Treatment Center in memory of their mother Winnie Ikard.

Her lifetime hobbies included playing in, and frequently winning, golf tournaments, fly fishing at Pinetop or Pearl Lakes, playing bridge, spending time at her lake house in Elephant Butte, or visiting her friends in “Hobby Club”. Mary was a founding member of “Hobby Club” having met once a month with this sisterhood for the last sixty years. Out of all her hobbies and activities, Mary was most passionate about attending her family’s life events. You could always count on her to show up to or coordinate an event to celebrate those she loved. She was notorious for securing rows of concert tickets from Mother Hubbard to enjoy live entertainment with her family and friends. Mary was an enthusiastic conversationalist and never turned down the opportunity to enjoy good company over a glass of wine or gin and tonic.

Mary was an active member in the Catholic Church, making San Ysidro and San Jose her home churches. She loved singing in the choir at San Ysidro. She was abundantly gracious and generous, always arranging to bring brisket, her famous chile con queso, toffee, and other comfort foods to church events and to family and friends in need.

Her legacy lives on through surviving family members: Dickie and Peggy, Natalie, Michael and Charlene, Louie and Darcy, Mary and Gary Arnold, Barry and Kathy Stout. Her grandchildren: Sharla and Brandon Stuart, Cade and Joanna, Cole and Kaley, Jesse and Kristen Haynie, Becca and Danny Maese, Clara and Trey Correa, Mac and Teresa Griffin, Doug and Amy Whitehead, Karajane and Garrett Denmark, Brennen and Tierney Jeffers, Brycen and Jacie, Whitney and Chris Bustillos, Luke and Jay Arnold, Maria Stout, Annie and Matthew Lanier and Bobby Tom Stout. She is also survived by numerous great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren who brought her so much joy. She leaves behind her sister Catherine Odette and brother Richard, sisters-in-laws Gloria Ikard and Oleta Salopek, Pam Harty Strait, many nieces, nephews, special friends and her wonderful caregivers Teresa Escapita, Martha Hernandez De La Torre, Rosa Angrisani and LuLu Resendiz Marquez.

She was preceded in death by her husband Tom, son Billy, daughter Mary Winifred, son-in-law Joey Arnold, granddaughter Darcie Winifred, parents Amzi and Winnie, in-laws Vide and Marija, brothers Jimmy and John, extended family members, beloved friends and her very special Maria De La Paz Hernandez and Rudolpho Delgado Calderon who were amongst the many devoted employees.

On Thursday, October 12th at San Jose Catholic Church in Picacho there will be a viewing from 5:00 – 7:00 PM and Rosary at 7:00 PM. Mass will be held on Friday, October 13th at 1:30 PM at Our Lady of Purification Catholic Church in Dona Ana. Immediately following Mass her Celebration of life will take place at The Farm and Ranch Museum. She will be laid to rest at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens at 2:00 PM on November 24, 2023, which would’ve been her 90th birthday.

Pallbearers will be her grandsons. Honorary pallbearers will be Sonny Klein, Mike “Chief” Cleary, and her godsons Brian Houghton and Art Johson.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be sent to the Community Foundation of Southern New Mexico - Billy Salopek Memorial Fund. Donations can be made through the Community Foundation of Southern New Mexico website. The family would like to thank Gentiva Hospice for their exceptional service.