Mary Lucia Shantz
(1935 - 2008)

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General Details

Name:	Ms Mary Lucia Shantz
Nick Name:	"mom"
Maiden Name:	Porrovechio, Sexton, Camacho
Gender:	Female
Age:	72 years old
Lived:	Saturday, 20 July 1935 - Wednesday, 9 January 2008

My Story

Mary was born in Tucson Arizona in 1935 to Homer Leroy and Gladys Harrell Rector Shantz.   Gladys was a homemaker who raised two kids before becoming employed with the U.S.G.S.    Homer was a Lawyer.   Based on pictures taken at the time, it seems that she had a very happy childhood there in the desert.   Surrounded by generations of family, Mary spent many happy hours growing into the loving and giving person she was. She loved to be surrounded by animals of all kinds, feeding any stray lucky enough to find her!! We were always allowed to keep any stray we children brought home because mom just couldn't say no to them.

Mary loved the simple things in life. She knew it was the small things in life that bring us the most pleasure.   I remember watching sad movies with her, knowing we could both freely tear up and totally understand why the other one was. I always cried everytime Lassie would save the other animals on t.v. and although my whole family razzed me about it, I always knew my mom totally understood why I did it. And, I remember her standing in the middle of the yard one night during a thunderstorm, her face totally alive with wonder, and as I watched her I wondered why she did this until she later explained to me the way it just made her feel alive and like she was a part of the earth and sky! My mom loved the great outdoors more than I even,  but she hated having to drive to it. LOL.   Driving mountain roads always scared the heck out of her. Course, she didnt learn to drive til she was well into her 20s, and i remember her friend taking us into the mountains and telling her to start driving! A mountain on one side and a cliff straight down on the other, She was terrified!! LOL.    Course, she did do it.... cuz my mom was one strong woman!!   She may have been sitting there behind the wheel whining and cursing him out, but darn if she didn't do it like a trooper. Course after that she really wanted nothing more to do with mountain driving.   She loved to go camping too.   Course it was never the relaxing experience she was hoping for!! With 5 kids all running in different directions, I'm sure she was kept too busy to really enjoy herself.   When we got older, she would take us camping but she would supply us with a tent and then fix up the back of the camper shell as her bedroom!! She would totally outfit it too.  That was sooo smart of her!!! Finally, the peaceful quiet comfort of being in the great outdoors.   She had a cot, battery powered lantern, radio, all toiletries necessary to protect herself and her kids out of doors and of course, a bunch of munchies of some kind!! I learned so much from her just by watching how she handled all of our emergencies.

Mary absolutely loved the holidays too. I mean alllll of them. We were definately holiday rich. Even during the lean times when mom didn't even have enough of a budget to balance the damn thing, she would give us kids a holiday to remember.   Always!!!      She just had a way of making everything seem special.    Easter picnics, St. Patty dinners, Valentines Day cards, Fourth of July picnics in the park, Halloween, and always her infamous fruit salad and yams with marshmallows for Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner. I've never been able to make them as good as her. WHO WILL MAKE THEM FOR US NOW!!!!

Latest Tributes

12 / 13 tributes

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From: granddaughter

Hey grandma it's your birthday today I just wanted to say happy birthday I love and miss you so much I wish you could...

From: kjb46

It is Christmas day today, and I miss you soo much. I know that this is your favorite day of the year, and I am t...

From: tcdaughterinlaw

Mom i love you and miss you very much. you have been a part of my life for 20 years. you are mother-in-law, but i alw...

From: tcdaughterinlaw
Song Name: in the arms of an...
Artist: sarah mclachlain

spend all your time waiting for that second chance for a break that will make...

From: son

From: granddaughter
Song Name: Bye Bye
Artist: Mariah Carey

I never knew I could hurt like this And everyday life goes on I wish I coul...

From: son

i love you and miss you so much mom. i miss being able to talk to you on the phone anytime i want to. i miss stopping...

From: kjb46

Cuz you always hated the smell! But guess what? Toulouse loves it!! I miss you soo much Mom. Sometimes I still ...

From: melissar2

I am so glad you got to see pictures of your great-granddaughter. I just wish you could have actually seen her and th...

From: kjb46
Song Name: Thank You
Artist: HellYeah

So many things, I didn't say. Is it too late now that you've gone away? So...

From: kjb46

For the enduring love I will always feel.

From: kjb46

This is for us, the survivors. A worry stone to absorb our cares and sorrows. For mom has no more cares and sorrows...

Biography

Fathers Name:	Homer Leroy Shantz
Mothers Name:	Gladys Harrell Rector Shantz
Spouse's Name:	no spouse, but the love of her life was Leroy Capote. She loved him til the day she died
Children's Names:	Jackie, Donna, Kathi, Juanita and Leroy Jr.
Siblings Names:	Homer Leroy Shantz III aka Bucky or Roy
Country of Birth:	USA
Country of Residence:	USA
City of Residence:	Coos Bay, Oregon
Occupation:	Information Technology & Telecommunications
Marital Status:	Single
Religion:	Other Christian

Interests

Favourite Sport:	Football
Favourite Team:	Her Grandsons High School Team
Favourite Book:	No Wonder they call him the savior by Max Lucado- she was reading this when she passed
Favourite Movie:	Mary loved to watch movies so too many to list
Favourite Music Genre:	Country
Favourite Artist:	She actually listened to a lot of different styles of music
Favourite Charity:	The Fireman's Fund of Coos County Oregon

Passing

Place of Passing:	Coos Bay, Oregon
Date of Passing:	9 January 2008
Cause of Passing:	acute coronary
Type of Funeral:	cremation Ocean View memorial chapel
Place of Burial:	Sunset Beach State Park Where she celebrated her b-day yearly and loved so much