Mary Ryan Darling, age 84, wife, mother, sister, grandmother, aunt, niece and CPA of Albuquerque, New Mexico, died March 16, 2018.
Mary was born in Silver City, New Mexico on November 9, 1933 to parents Lyda Murray Ryan and James Stanton Ryan. Mrs. Darling spent her childhood in Silver City. As a child she loved riding horses, especially her beloved horse Tony. She worked for the Silver City Daily Press as a photographer for a time and graduated from St. Mary's Academy High School.
At the age of 16, Mary went on a solo two-month sojourn to England and other parts of Europe, culminating in a pilgrimage to Rome in 1950. This trip was one of the defining moments in her life. A second defining moment happened when she met David W. Darling of Deming, New Mexico. They went on their first date on January 27, 1950 and spent the next 24,885 days loving each other. After attending St. Mary's College in South Bend, Indiana, Mary and David were married on October 22, 1952 at the Log Cabin Chapel on the Notre Dame Campus. On October 22, 2017, they celebrated their 65th anniversary!
David, a graduate of formerly New Mexico State Teacher's College, now Western New Mexico University (Western), and Mary lived in Maryland during David's tour of duty in the Army, from 1951 to 1953, after which he served in the U.S. Army Reserves for 8 years.
After leaving the Army, they moved to Anthony, New Mexico in 1954 where David was an elementary school Principal, while beginning his studies for a doctorate. David eventually received a Master's in Education from Western and a Doctorate in Education at the University of Texas at Austin. Between 1954 and 1963 Mary and David had 5 children. Immediately after the birth of their last child, they moved the entire family to Madison, Wisconsin, where David began his first faculty position at the University of Wisconsin.
In 1967 Mary and David moved their family back to New Mexico, where David took a job as a Chair of the Department of Elementary Education at the University of New Mexico. David served as the Dean of the College of Education from 1973 to 1982. In 1992 he retired as a Professor Emeritus from the University of New Mexico. While raising the 5 kids and maintaining the household, Mary was also active in community politics; volunteering to campaign for state representatives and helping her cousin, Judge Joseph Ryan during his re-election campaigns. When Mary's youngest child was in fourth grade, she shifted her focus and enrolled as a student at the University of New Mexico. She began majoring in Music, reflecting her love of music. She insisted that all the kids learn at least one musical instrument and neighbors would often hear anything from Chopsticks to Etudes on the grand piano in the Daring living room. Eventually, she found a passion in accounting and earned a B.A. from the University of New Mexico in 1977. Mary was a bookkeeper at Berger Briggs in Albuquerque for several years while she continued her studies. She ultimately became a Certified Public Accountant, where upon she became employed by the CPA firm of Neff and Company in Albuquerque. After she became a CPA, Mary continued her education, and at the tender age of 62 achieved a Master's Degree in Taxation.
Mary built a private CPA practice, specializing in older clients and a few family members until her first grandson, Deavon Tabish Moran was born. At that point she joyfully turned her attention to becoming a full time grandmother. She was also active in Republican state politics. She served on the Board of Regents at New Mexico Highlands University from 1983 to 1987. During this time she helped the Board navigate some treacherous political waters by keeping her eyes on what was best for students. They loved her for that. Mary loved music and reading. Later in life she developed a passion for golf and became a Course Marshal at the University of New Mexico course. Mary and David were extremely proud of the fact that each of 5 children obtained at least two college degrees and all became contributing members to Society.
Mary is survived by her husband David, her daughter Ann Darling, of Salt Lake City. A treasured grand-daughter America Darling Curl. Her daughter Mary Darling of Albuquerque, Mary's husband Ken Tabish and their children Devon Tabish Moran and Jason Arvizu and his wife Faith and their son, Mary's great-grandson, Aidan Arvizu, her son David B. Darling of Carlsbad, CA, his wife Judy and their children Emily and Milo Darling, her son Louis A. Darling, of Roseburg, Oregon and his wife Rhonda and their children Diana and Kayla, and her son John D. Darling of Monrovia, CA and his children Christine and Jack. Her Brother, James S. Ryan the II and his wife Nancy. Mary is also survived by more than 40 nieces and nephews and their countless offspring.
A Rosary will be recited at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, March 24, 2018 at Immaculate Conception Church, 619 Copper Avenue N.W., Albuquerque, New Mexico. A Memorial Mass will be held at 10:00 a.m., Rosary at 9:00. with Deacon Don Roseborough celebrating. In addition, a Mass of Christian Burial for Mrs. Darling will be offered at 9:30 a.m. on Monday, March 26, 2018 at St. Frances Newman Center, 914 W. 13th Street, Silver City, New Mexico. Interment will be at Ft. Bayard Cemetery in Ft. Bayard, New Mexico.
In lieu of flowers, the Family requests donations be made to Alzheimer's Foundation of America (https://alzfdn.org/support-us/donate/).
Mrs. Darling's Family would like to offer heartfelt thanks to Wendy Deetz, who offered care, love and friendship in their home in Albuquerque, and to the entire Staff, and Nielsa Romay de Gomez in particular, of the Brookdale Assisted Living Facility, and to her many devoted friends who loved and supported her throughout her life.