Mary Alice (Wisdom) Blanton

Mary Blanton, 87, passed from this life Sunday, June 12, 2022.  Mary was born December 23, 1934 in Mena, Arkansas.   Mary was the only sibling surviving from a family of 8 children, a half-brother, and her parents, Lonnie and Rose Mae Gallaher Wisdom. Mary’s dad was a millwright and had to move his family as the lumber industry changed Arkansas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico.  Mary’s early years were spent near Cloudcroft, Alamogordo, Arizona and finally Socorro, New Mexico where she met Bill Blanton.  They married when she was just 16 and were married 71 1/2 years at the time of her passing.  Mary followed Bill as he went into the Army, and they were able to be together throughout his Army years as many couples did during that time in our nation’s history.  Their son Tommy was born during that Army time on Long Island, New York. Mary and Bill got to travel many years after Bill’s retirement going to graduations, birthdays and family reunions eventually seeing 36 of the lower 48 states.  Much of this travel was done in an RV with friends Nancy and Alvin Chick. Mary was a very talented person; spending most of her life being a seamstress making most of her children's clothing and knitting, crocheting and Swedish weaving blankets and doilies.  She was also a talented painter and accomplished poet.  Mary was a dedicated Bible teacher instructing the young and old in GA’s and Inlow Youth Camp. Mary leaves behind her husband Bill; son, Tommy, and wife Pam; daughter, Loretta and husband Mike Davila; son, Robert and wife Mary; daughter, Dana Martin who has lived and cared for her parents the last few years; and foster daughter Annette Russell.  She also leaves 11 grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren, and 4 great-great-grandchildren. Mary would want us to mention her grandkids: Vicki, Matthew, and Charles; Debi, Becky, Karen, and Elise; Shawna and Amy; and Leah and Timothy.  We would name the greats and great greats but holy cow! Mary will be very missed, but we have a strong belief we will be united with her in heaven. Please consider, in lieu of flowers, giving to Inlow Youth Camp in Mary Blanton’s name to the First Baptist Church, 115 S. 4th St., Belen, New Mexico, 87002. Inlow was one of Mary (and Bill’s) special places and where Mary was a board member, and also once held the distinction of being a chief bottle washer. A memorial service for Mary will be held on Saturday, June 18, 2022 at 2:00 pm at the First Baptist Church of Belen. Arrangements are being handled by the caring professionals at the Noblin Funeral Service Belen Chapel, 418 W. Reinken Ave., (505) 864-4448, where an online guest register is available at www.noblin.com.

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