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Mary Taylor Fisher was born in Silsbee, TX on February 8, 1920 to James and Caroline Taylor. She moved with her family to La Junta, CO in 1921 where her father, James Taylor, worked as a machinist for the A.T. & SF Rail Road. Mary graduated from La Junta High School in 1938. Shortly after that she married Bill Stafford and continued to live in La Junta where Bill worked for the Santa Fe. They moved to Raton in 1941 where they lived until 1954. Mary and Bill and their three children, Patricia (Pat), Margaret (Peggy), and William Jr. (Billy) then moved to Albuquerque. Mary was employed by the Kistler-Collister department store in Albuquerque for 23 years. She worked her way up from retail clerk to Department Head of the cosmetics department, the most exclusive department of fine cosmetics in the city. She enjoyed traveling to New York City and other locations for cosmetics schools and buying trips. She loved her job and loved helping women feel good about themselves. Mary attended St. Marks Episcopal Church in Albuquerque, where she lived for 48 years. After retiring from Kistler-Collister, she worked in numerous shops in Old Town including the Old Town Indian Trading Post and The Candle Shop. She loved the excitement, cultural diversity, Mexican food and the handicrafts of Old Town. She loved it so much she didn't retire until the age of 73. Mary was an accomplished artist and won first place for one of her paintings at the New Mexico State Fair. She was active in the Daughters of the American Revolution, the Eastern Star and volunteered for the New Mexico Museum of Natural History. She was also an accomplished cook who made fantastic Pecan Rolls. She loved to travel and enjoyed trips to Europe, Brazil, and Hawaii, and to visit her large family. She dearly loved the Albuquerque Zoo. Mary hated leaving her beloved Sandia Mountains, Old Town and New Mexican food, but due to health and other reasons, she moved to Littleton, CO in 2002. She remained there until her death on Sept. 2, 2004 from lung disease caused by rheumatoid arthritis. Mary is survived by her brother, Col. James Taylor X and wife, Charlotte of Hilton Head, SC; daughter, Pat Stafford of Littleton, CO; daughter, Peggy Hankinson and husband, George of Littleton, CO; and son, Bill Stafford, Jr. and wife, Laurie of Lake Montezuma, AZ. She has seven grandchildren, including Steve Jolly and wife, Bonnie of Bailey, CO, Tom Jolly and wife, Jeanette of Littleton, CO, Susanne Velarde and husband, Sean of Littleton, CO, Mark Hankinson of Denver, CO, Jennifer Hankinson of Littleton, CO, Zach Stafford and wife, Crystal of Prescott Valley, AZ, and Keli Stafford of Bend, OR. She also has eleven great-grandchildren. A beautiful Memorial Service was held at St. Gregory's Episcopal Church in Littleton on Thursday, September 9 at 3:00 p.m. with the Graveside Service held at the Fairview Cemetery in La Junta, CO at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, September 10. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Mary's name to the Arthritis Foundation Rocky Mountain Chapter, 2280 S. Albion, Denver, CO 80222 (303-756-8622). All services have been entrusted to the loving care of Johnson-Romero Funeral Home, La Junta, Colorado.
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