Mary Etta Spall |
| Posted 2008-08-17 by Judy Wight Branson |
| The Daily Courier, Prescott, Arizona Saturday, August 2, 2008 Mary Etta Spall, 82, of Prescott, Ariz., born Aug. 17, 1925, passed away July 30, 2008, at Hospice Family Care in Prescott. Services will be noon Saturday, Aug. 9, 2008, at Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 882 Sunset Ave., Prescott. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to People Who Care, P.O. Box 12977, Prescott, AZ 86304. Chino Valley Funeral Home is caring for the family. --------------------------------------- The Daily Courier, Prescott, Arizona Wednesday, August 6, 2008 Celebrating A Life Mary Etta Spall 1925-2008 The youngest of nine, Mary spent her early years on her parents’ homestead, until the drought of the 1930s sent the family into nearby Greeley, Colo. Mary graduated from Greeley High School, promptly lied about her age, and joined the Navy WAVEs. After the war, Mary joined the U.S. Marine Corps and eventually became the athletics director for the 11th Marine District. She retired after 17 years with an honorable discharge as a staff sergeant, but remained associated with the Marines as the civilian athletics director. Mary met Shelia in 1973, and they moved from Coronado Island to a 20-acre ranch on the east side of the costal range. In 1985, they both retired, sold the ranch, bought a 5th wheel and toured the U.S., looking for a place that met their requirements for retirement. They settled in Prescott in 1987, and have been here ever since. Mary had always wanted to be an archeologist, probably due to growing up in an area of Colorado that was rich in Indian sites with lots of arrowheads and potsherds on the homestead. She studied at Northern Arizona University, became part of the Yavapai Archeological Association and participated in many of their projects, eventually becoming the site supervisor on a number of digs. Mary’s crowning achievement in archeology was the six-year excavation of Coyote Creek Ruins and discovery of a true Prescott culture. The results will be published by the Arizona Archeological Society in the near future. Mary was an extraordinary person, intelligent and witty and an inspiration to all whose lives she touched. She is survived by her life partner, Shelia DeWoskin; her brother Harry Spall; numerous nieces and nephews; and many, many dear friends. A memorial service will be 1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 9, 2008, at the Granite Peak Unitarian Universal Congregation. Contributions may be made to People Who Care in Prescott in lieu of flowers. Information provided by survivors. |
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