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Marita Mae (Metsie) McCanna Dickinson Jones was born to Ray and Grace McCanna on October 14, 1923 in Albuquerque, NM. In her passing on November 10, 2004, she was surrounded by love and prayers with her four daughters by her side. She lived a full life and will be remembered by everyone whose lives she touched for her kindness, thoughtfulness, and generosity. She graduated from Saint Vincent Academy in 1941 and attended UNM where she was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority. She married George Dickinson in 1944. She served a term as president of the Albuquerque Junior League. Her career as a teacher at Albuquerque Public Schools spanned 25 years, teaching English at Jefferson Junior High and Sandia High School. In 1968 she was elected president of the Albuquerque Classroom Teachers Association. She was a life-long Democrat, and a devout Catholic. In 1983 she married Charles Jones, who survives Marita, with whom she spent 21 wonderful years. They divided their time between Albuquerque and Sopchoppy, FL. At "the river" she was active in the garden club, homemakers club and was known as "Pearl Mesta of the swamp" for her great entertaining, especially her annual Super Bowl party. She loved life and her family and friends. She was an avid bridge player, an excellent cook, a creative vocabulist, loved those Broncos, shoes, shopping, traveling, Wheel of Fortune, and gardening. Marita passed on her love of nature and flowers to all of her children. Some of the words that describe our matriarch are: sincere, wise, connected, respectful, tireless, intuitive, concerned, witty, attentive, caring, classy, eloquent, and precious. Her spirit will always remain alive for her daughters, Debbie Deakin, Lauri Dickinson, Joani Murphy, Kati Dickinson Hays; son-in-law Robert Deakin; grandchildren, Rob and Kristen Deakin, Lara and Greg Lindner, Erin Murphy, Sara and Ryan Hays, Renee and Darren Jack; and great-grandchildren, Lauren and Will Deakin. Also surviving are her step-children Barbara Roberts, David Jones and Virginia Moss, step-mother Vivian McCanna, brother Jim McCanna and sister Mary Roark. Friends and family were invited to a memorial Mass at The Newman Center on Saturday, November 13 at 11:00 am. At her request, a party was to follow to celebrate her life, held at Albuquerque Marriott Pyramid North from 1:00 - 3:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Kaseman Presbyterian Hospice or the Alzheimer's Association of New Mexico.
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