Mary Elizabeth Woods

The story of Mary Arthur, married Woods, began well before her birth, for she was truly "wonderfully and fearfully made"! PSALM 139:14; I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. The Book of Psalms was Mary's most favorite part of the Holy Bible. It often provided her with great comfort facing the trials and tribulations of this life.

She was born to Gaelic Immigrants who traveled independently of one another to this country in the early 1920's, each coming to Milton, Massachusetts where they became servants of the infamous Forbes family. Her Father was a groundskeeper, gardener, coachman, and took special care of the Forbes Aviary. Mary Ann MacDonald, her mother was the seamstress, and Forbes Cook. Mary grew up in the home still available in Milton which can be viewed online, at 304 Adams Street, Milton Mass, 02186; this mansion is truly worth a peek, it has 8 bedrooms and 6 baths. Mary had rich beginnings with her Scottish mother from the Outer Hebrides of Leurbost Scotland, and her endearing father, John Arthur from Enniskillen, Ireland.

Mary passed along what she would call the gifts and strengths of the Scots, though we know and acknowledge all blessings flow from above, James 1:17 -Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. These two listed Scriptures most sustained her over her many glorious years.

Mary along with her husband, Kenneth Harley Woods, gave birth to children, Deborah Ann, Ralph Harley, and Maureen Bella. They each experienced life a little differently, Debbie was the eldest having nearly 12 years between her sister, and Ralph due to a disability. They each learned a lot of resourcefulness from their parents, and how to endure and overcome; teaching them too to have a temperament of humanity.

Mary passed to Debbie her gifts and love of all things home economics. She loved to putt in the gardens that her husband kept, and boy did he work up a sweat digging and trenching. They shared meals often from their front yard, as well as the back, always having fresh Rosemary at their disposal.

Debbie loves to sew, and did for many years, copying her mom's handiwork at the machine and otherwise; clever with both the needle and crochet hook. The joke was then, and is today, especially with our Uncle Roddy, "yes but when the lovely work must be laundered it comes un-done." Mary could not see fit to darn in the tails of snipped yarn!

Mary was handy in the kitchen, able to turn a dull day into a lively evening of making popcorn Penuche, a rather fizzy fudge like coating that was lots of fun to make. 

Being Scottish the family was huge on walking and hiking, and they would often do this in the dead of 120 degree heat; just take off with no water or communication device, only a big stick to ward off the many different rattlers found in the high desert of the Mojave.

Mary was an avid reader and that too was passed down to all the generations. Even today her great grandsons are very intellectually stimulated by things of other cultures, being very invested in the Gaelic World and knowing that their own mother and auntie were raised in Athens, Greece, having no television, radio or telephone.

Mary, has always had a very giving spirit much sometimes to her family's chagrin, after gifting her with a treasure she would often be prompt to release it to a new owner.

Mary was extremely attractive, being a Woman of Beauty belonging to Christ our King, and having a loving compassionate spirit she was and forever will remain beautiful on both the inside and the out.

It is with a sense of loss and great sadness that her family writes this. Its good to know that we all believe in "absent in body, present with the Lord". And they believe she will be right there with Him, our Creator when she took her last breath. She will not be experiencing any sadness, sickness nor pain; she will be made whole and new again until we meet up in the sky.

Revelations 21:4  He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.   

Mary will be laid to rest with her husband, Kenneth Harley Woods, at Fort Logan National Cemetery. She will be deeply missed by her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, brother, extended family members, and anyone who was blessed to meet her.