Mary McLeod of Goodyear, AZ, dear wife of Robert McLeod and daughter of the late Evelyn and Roscoe Gustafson of Dearborn, MI, passed away on July 19, 2011 following a severe heart attack. Mary was born on September 21st, 1942 in Detroit, MI, and attended elementary and high school in nearby Dearborn, MI. She graduated from Central MI University with a degree in education and received her Masters degree in education from Eastern MI University. Mary became a school teacher and spent 28 years in the Taylor, MI school district where she primarily taught mathematics at Hoover middle school. She and Robert married in 1997 and moved to Goodyear, AZ to escape the Michigan winters. Mary was a loving wife, mother, proud grandmother, and a true friend. Her eyes would light up with joy when she talked about her children and her beautiful grandchildren. Mary was a very outgoing, warm individual who loved meeting and talking to people. She was a great hugger, was caring, compassionate, witty and had a loving heart. Mary and Robert especially enjoyed participating in art shows locally and throughout the Southwest, where they could mingle with people from all over the country and sell her colorful, intricately hand-made shawls and husband Roberts' Dichroic glass jewelry. She loved to tell stories about the fascinating people she met and how her shawls made someone smile or 'feel beautiful.' Mary successfully battled ovarian cancer with humor and dignity and inspired others that she met in similar situations. Her motto "FROG-Forever Rely On God" helped her and her family through this difficult time. Her family is very proud of the strength and determination she showed in beating this awful disease. Mary was a hockey fan and she quickly became an avid Phoenix Coyotes supporter after moving to Arizona. Mary and Robert rarely missed a home game and her squeals and cheers will certainly be missed by those who shared season tickets near hers. Mary is survived by her husband, Robert; her son Jason Blankenship and his wife Celeste of Westland, MI; her son Matt Blankenship and his wife Shannon and grandson Logan from Westland, MI; her step-son John McLeod, his wife Paula and granddaughter Christine from Northland, MI; her step-son Jim McLeod and his wife Julie, grandson Conner, a West Point cadet and granddaughter Molly of Peoria, AZ. She is also survived by her brother David Gustafson and his family from Westland, MI and her loving mother-n-law Irene McLeod of Peoria, AZ. No immediate services will be held in AZ however, a small private service will be held by the family in Michigan.
The family requests that any donations be made to the Ovarian Cancer Alliance of AZ for the research and cure of ovarian cancer. Ovarian Cancer Alliance of Arizona, 32531 N. Scottsdale Road, Suite 105-224, Scottsdale, AZ 85266 http://ocaz.org/donate
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