MONTE VISTA— Mary Ann Mitchell passed away June 23, 2019 in her apartment at The Legacy of Monte Vista.
The youngest of six children of Jacob and Martha (Kota) Hellmund, she was born in Phoenix, Ariz. on Nov. 1, 1929. After graduating from high school she moved to Denver to pursue a career with Mountain Bell. After working for a few years, a co-worker invited her to a July 4th picnic in the San Luis Valley. There she was introduced to her co-worker’s brother, Marvin Mitchell. They were married later that year on Oct. 22, 1951. One year later, her dream of raising a family on a farm began with the birth of their son followed by three daughters over the next seven years.
As a lifelong student of Christian Science, she was a member of the Christian Science Society both in Monte Vista and later in the Alamosa Society which meets in Society Hall. Her strong faith guided all aspects of her life.
For the next 65 years she prepared many nutritious (always at least three vegetables from her garden) meals, sewed, mended and quilted many items for others. She and her husband traveled throughout the United States and the world (highlighted by a road trip to Alaska after they had retired). Mary Ann always enjoyed visiting with others and giving tours of her flower gardens. There are many flower gardens around the country that have at least one flower that originated from one of her gardens.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Marvin; brothers Russel (Virginia) Hellmund, Robert (Carol) Hellmund, Ray Hellmund; sisters Dorothy and Gladys Hellmund and daughter Patricia (Tom) Mullen.
She is survived by three children, Mike (Glena) Mitchell of Monte Vista; Shirley (Darrel) VanIwarden of Canon City and Sandra Aragon (Rod Talmadge) of Castle Rock and 11 grandchildren, Melissa (Mark) Matson, Clay (Gina) Mitchell, Tyler (Melissa) Mitchell, Jamie (Kyle) Glenn, Brian (Jennifer) VanIwarden, Jeff (Johnna) VanIwarden, Jennifer Mallonee, Katie Smith, Ashley Aragon, Ryan (Virginia) Aragon, Alicia (De’Shone Shuler) Aragon; great grandchildren, Laney, Luke and Leyton Matson; Parker and Kenley Mitchell; Madeline and Sophia Mitchell; Haddie Glenn; Lorelei, Lincoln and Logan VanIwarden; Jake and Jenner VanIwarden; Ziaire Aragon-Shuler; Poem Aragon and numerous nieces and nephews.
The family would like to publicly thank all of Mary Ann’s friends who gave their time and friendship to make her life better. We won’t attempt to name individuals, but whether it was helping with her many gardens, cleaning her apartment, fixing her television, sharing a meal with her, admiring her quilts, playing card games (using her special rules), or just stopping by to visit, you meant a lot to her. If you were involved in our mom’s life, we appreciate it!
Contributions can be made to the Sargent Educational Foundations or an organization of your choice.
A memorial service will be held on Aug. 1, 2019 at 11 a.m. at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 99 West Prospect Ave., Monte Vista.