Mary Taylor

Mary Elizabeth Weakland Taylor died in Las Cruces, NM on October 11, 2013 at the age of 82. Mary was born on June 3, 1931 in Barnesboro, PA as the first child born to to Ralph and Edythe Weakland. Mary grew up in Barnesboro and Columbus, Ohio. After Mary graduated from high school, she joined the Army and was in the Women's Army Corp and stationed in Ft. Meade, MD, Ft Hayes, OH and Heidelberg, Germany, during the Korean War, where she met her future husband, Thomas Russell Taylor. She was very proud of her military service and attained the rank of Sergeant. After Mary's military career, she worked in the Purchasing department of the General Motors office in Atlanta. Mary and Tom were married in January, 1957 in Atlanta, Georgia. Mary and Tom's first daughter, Tracy, was born in 1959 followed by a second daughter, Janine, who was born in 1961. Mary stayed home with their girls while Tom continued with his Army career. They moved to France, Germany, New Mexico, Virginia and then to Las Cruces, NM when Tom retired in 1973. Never one to sit still, Mary recognized a need for organized girls' softball when she moved to Las Cruces. She and Alice Cox started girl's fast-pitch ASA softball in Las Cruces in 1973, which evolved into the Las Cruces Youth Softball Association. Throughout her girls' softball years and her grandchildren's softball years, Mary could be seen at the softball fields working, watching and doing whatever was needed to ensure that children had a place to play softball. When Mary's children started school at NMSU, she decided that she would like to go back to school and obtain a college degree. Mary obtained her Bachelor's Degree in Economics from NMSU and was very proud of that accomplishment. Mary loved to watch all of her children's' and grandchildren's' sporting, band and other school events over the years. She loved being actively involved with her grandchildren in any way she could. They all loved her very much. Mary liked to play cards and was proficient in bridge, canasta, pinochle, mahjong and any other game that might be open for players. She had dear friends who played with her for many years. Mary is survived by her daughters, Tracy Peyton and husband Mark, and Janine Trujillo and her husband Ed. She is also survived by her grandchildren Matthew Williams, Megan Williams, Frank Perez his wife Rebecca, Erin Perez, Daunte Trujillo and great-grandchildren Yazmina Perez and Jaret Fox. Mary is also survived by her sister Jane Taylor and husband Jack, and brother Ralph Weakland and wife Carol. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews. She also leaves behind her dear doggie, Abby. Mary is predeceased by her husband, Tom and both her parents. At Mary's request, cremation has taken place and her cremains will be inurned at Fort Bliss National Cemetery near her husband. No services are planned. In lieu of flowers, donations made be made to Dona Ana County Humane Society, P.O. Box 1176, Las Cruces, NM 88004 or online at www.donaanacountyhumanesocietyinc.org or to the NM Chapter of the American Parkinson Disease Association, 10817 Griffith Park Drive NE, Albuquerque, NM 87123 or online at www.nmapda.org PDF Printable Version