Mary Sturgill

Mary Camilla Page Sturgill went home to the Lord on July 2, 2019. Mary was a member of “The Greatest Generation." She and her husband, James Leonard Sturgill had a motto which described their outlook on life, "Grow old with me, the best is yet to be."  Mary lived a long full 96 years.

Mary was born in Childress, Texas on June 7, 1923. Because of the early death of her mother and illness of her father, most of her childhood was spent with her grandmother in Arkansas and California. While living in Arkansas she met the love of her life and future husband, James Leonard Sturgill who came courting on his mule.  After high school, she moved to California and James enlisted in the Navy.  James would come see Mary in California during leave. They were married on December 19, 1942.   James served on the USS Dale which was docked in Pearl Harbor when it was boomed which entered the US into WWII.   After the war the couple settled in Redding, California, where he worked for the railroad. Soon 2 boys were born, James Allen, called Jay, and Clyde Eugene, called Gene, after his father's best friend in the Navy. Eventually, the family moved to Hobbs when James was relocated by Southwestern Public Service Co. Mary was a strong business woman and she opened Mary’s Fashions, a high-end women’s clothing store. After both boys were out of the home, they opened their hearts and adopted a beautiful daughter, who they named Kim Joy Sturgill.

After raising their children, they bought a RV and traveled extensively going to all 50 states. She researched her family roots and history and met family members whose forbearers fought in the Alamo, took passage from Germany, and came to the American West in a covered wagon. She and Leonard, as she called him, raised a family, built businesses, and made lasting friendships in their much-loved hometown of Hobbs.

They were active in the organization of survivors from the USS Dale and went to reunions all over the country. They were proud members of St. Helena's Catholic Church in Hobbs. They enjoyed their grandchildren and time at home as well. Unfortunately, Jim died September 2005.  Afterwards, Mary did not travel as much, but still enjoyed family time. In the last few years, she has been a resident of Desert Gardens Retirement Community.

She was preceded in death by her husband James L. and son James Allen (Jay) and is survived by her son, Gene Sturgill and his wife Wreatha, and her daughter, Kim and her husband Francis and daughter-in-law Sharon Sturgill, grandchildren, Jeannie Alexander, Benjamin Sturgill, and Kaci Saiz, as well as great- grandchildren Alyssa Sturgill, Jessica Sturgill, Tristan Saiz, Michael Alexander, Ashton Alexander, Craig Alexander, and Audrey Alexander, and one niece Janice Meek.