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Mary Jean Blumenthal, 79, a resident of Albuquerque since 1938, passed away at home on November 28, 1999, after a long illness. She was born on April 24, 1920 to Ellery and Verda Worthen in Wellsburg, WV. Mary graduated valedictorian of her high school class in Wellsburg and came to New Mexico in 1938 to study anthropology at the University of New Mexico. She participated in field schools at Chaco Canyon and other notable archaeological sites around the state and received her degree in anthropology in 1942. She married Ernst H. Blumenthal, Jr. on September 14, 1946. Mary was employed by the University of New Mexico Zimmerman Library for 24 years, retiring in 1985. She was responsible for the Clinton P. Anderson Reading Room, and her knowledge of the exact location and subject of every book in that repository of Southwestern history and literature was legendary. While working at the Anderson Room, Mary made a valuable contribution to the oral history of New Mexico by transcribing hundreds of hours of old reel to reel audio tapes recorded by the Pioneer Foundation in the early 1950's. Before her illness, Mary enjoyed hunting wild mushrooms and collecting antique crocks. She was a highly skilled seamstress, quilter and grower of extraordinary African Violets. Mary is survived by her devoted husband of 53 years, Ernie of the family home; son, Ernst H. Blumenthal, III and wife, Cynthia; daughter, Susan Jane Blumenthal, all of Placitas; grandson, Aaron David Dixon of Albuquerque; granddaughter, Aedriel Verda Mulliniks and husband, Mike of Las Cruces; and grandson, Soren Ernst Gaiser of Placitas. She was preceded in death by her brother, William H. Worthen; and sister, Susan Jane Hanna McMahon. Cremation has taken place and a memorial reception will be held Thursday, 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at French Mortuary, 1111 University Blvd. NE. Should friends desire, memorial contributions may be made to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 80250, Albuquerque, NM 87198. French Mortuary, 1111 University Blvd. NE.
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