Mary WOOTAN

Mary Evelyn (Mangam) Wootan,Another pioneer is lost to us. Mary Evelyn (Mangam) Wootan, a third generation native of Willcox, was born March 31, 1920, & passed away in Lake Havasu City, AZ on May 19, 2004.. Her beloved husband, Joseph F. Wootan, Jr., to whom she was married for 60 years (31 of which were spent in Willcox), and sons, Lewis Dale and Donald Robert preceded Mary in , as did her parents and a half sister, Jewel Summers. She is survived by daughters Millie (Lee) Barnes of Lake Havasu and Mary Jo (Bill) Page of Cave Creek; a great-grandson, Brandon Wootan, whom she and Joe helped raise, 6 grandchildren—Deanna (Tom) Bastian, Darla (Brian) Walschburger, Lew, Jr., Joseph, and Kevin Wootan; & Leslie Rene Wootan, 11 great-grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.Mary and Joe farmed in the Steward District in the late ‘40’s and early‘50’s before moving into Willcox where Mary worked as a telephone operator for Mountain Bell, and in 1958 in bookkeeping for Valley National Bank (Bank One). She trained many of the Willcox graduates who entered the banking industry. In 1971 Mary transferred to the Oracle-Grant Branch in Tucson, where she was promoted to Assistant Manager. She retired from VNB in 1979. They lived in Tucson until Joe passed away 12/23/ 2000. Because of health problems, Mary moved to Lake Havasu City, AZ to be cared for by her eldest daughter Millie (Lee) Barnes, and her great-grandson, Brandon Wootan, who is being raised by Millie and Lee. Growing up, Mary attended many schools in Arizona, graduating from Gila Bend as valedictorian of her class in only three years. Willcox, however, was always home, and in-between school times, she always returned to spend summers in Willcox. with her “other mom,” Bertha Boyd, and cousins, Betty (Wootan), Bud Boyd, & Barbara (Cookerly).Mary’s family came to Cochise County in the 1860’s, where her Grandfather, a soldier stationed at Ft. Grant, fought and was killed by Apache Indians. Her Grandmother moved to Willcox, where she had a home built on a lot directly east of the Rex Allen Railroad Park. Their children and grandchildren were born and raised in that house, which eventually was willed to a Granddaughter, Bertha Boyd. Mary’s mother, Lena McMeans, lived on the lot next to it. The original house stood for over a hundred years, until recently condemned and torn down.She and Joe spent their retired years traveling, camping and fishing, visiting family and friends, enjoying their Tucson home and raising beautiful roses. Mary was a forty-plus-year member of Eastern Star (Willcox and later Benson), and a member of the Vallebanqueroes in Tucson. She still has many friends and family, young and old who still reside in Willcox.Visitation will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Saturday, May 29, 2004, at East Lawn Palms Mortuary, 5801 E. Grant Rd. in Tucson, AZ. Chapel Services will follow at 12:00 P.M. at East Lawn Palms Mortuary. The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Hospice of Havasu, P.O. Box 597, LHC, AZ 86405 in thanks for their caring professionals who greatly eased her passing.Arrangements were entrusted to Lietz-Fraze Funeral Home & Crematory