Mary L. Wood
Burial Details
Obituaries
Grand Junction Daily Sentinel page 5B - August 9, 2011
Mary L. Wood of Ouray, Colorado
died suddenly August 6,
2011. She passed away at St.
Mary's Hospital in Grand Junction,
CO, shortly after taking a
fall at home and then experiencing
a massive stroke. She passed
gently and peacefully with her
family around her. She was 80
years old.
Mary was a long-time resident of Ouray, moving there in 1965.
She was involved in many cultural and historic organizations and
gave many years of dedicated service to the community. She was recently
honored by The Ouray County Arts Association for many
years of work serving twice as the Director of the Artists' Alpine
Holiday. She volunteered at the Ouray County Historical Museum,
supported the Crow Canyon Archeological Society and many, many
historical societies in the United States. Family history and genealogical
research and preservation was her passion. Her research was
published in a number of genealogical publications. She was a diligent
and thorough researcher and a proud Daughter of the American
Revolution and The National Society of Colonial Dames; her family
roots run deep into America's early history.
Mary was born at Cobb Place near Bedford, Taylor County, Iowa
on April 4, 1931. She was raised on the farm by her parents, Ralph
W. Smalley and Leona Furl Weir Smalley, the seventh of eighth
children. She was predeceased by her brothers, Nelson, Laurel
(L.G.) and Ralph (Sim) and sisters, Ruth Smalley Whitney and Bethel
(Beckie) Smalley Jackson. She is survived by one brother, Jean
Smalley (Arlene) and one sister, Patricia Smalley Jackson, both of
Medford, Oregon.
Mary's early education was in rural southeastern Iowa. She attended
country school, walking two miles each way until the fourth
grade when she attended school in Conway, Iowa to the eighth
grade. She graduated from Gravity High School in Gravity, Iowa
and continued her education at the University of Iowa at Iowa City
from which she graduated in 1953 with a B.S. degree in Registered
Nursing. She married John M. Tjossem in 1954 and moved to Flagstaff,
Arizona, where she continued her nursing education. She was
employed by Montrose Memorial Hospital in Montrose, CO. She
also worked for a time as Philip Icke's legal secretary and then became
Director of Social Services for Ouray County.
Mary and David G. Wood were married November 27, 1976 and
enjoyed 34 years together living in Ouray. They enjoyed traveling
all over the world and entertaining their friends and family in their
beautiful home. They enjoyed the arts and music making annual
trips to experience and enjoy the Sante Fe Opera and the Central
City Opera among other cultural events. In recent years they spent
winters in Palm Desert, California.
Mary was predeceased by two sons, David Ray and Matthew
Ralph. She is survived by one son, John Tjossem (Margaret) of
Ridgway, CO., and two daughters, Sarah Farrar of Calgary, Alberta,
Canada and Martha Sweeney Tjossem of Grand Junction, CO., and
five grandchildren, Andrew Farrar, Brian and Mary Sweeney and
Hannah and Jeremiah Tjossem. Her family misses her greatly.
Services to be held at the First Presbyterian Church at Ouray, August
11, 2011 at 3:00 p.m. with visitation from 2:00 to 2:45. Graveside
service at 4:00 p.m. at Cedar Hill Cemetery just north of Ouray.
A reception will follow at the family home, 431 4th Street in Ouray
at 5:00 p.m.
Charitable donations to either The Friends of the Wright Opera
House, P.O. Box 17, Ouray, CO 81427 or Ouray Public Library,
P.O. Box 625, Ouray, CO 81427. Condolences may also be sent to
the family at www.crippinfuneralhome.com.
Arrangements are under the direction of Crippin Funeral Home &
Crematory, Montrose.
