Mary Ann Covert Tatge

Mary Ann Covert Tatge passed away peacefully on September 17, 2020 in her home surrounded by family.  She was born April 20, 1922 to Myrtle Pearson Keene Peterson and Addison Center Peterson in Bonham, Texas. 

She married Dr. Spencer E. Covert in Dallas, Texas in January 1944 and they moved to Long Beach, California shortly thereafter.  She received the Bachelor of Arts degree in English from CSU Long Beach and the Master of Library Science degree from the University of Southern California.  The family moved to Fullerton in 1966.  Mary Ann served as the Librarian at Fullerton High School from 1968 through 1987.  She also served as librarian simultaneously at Fullerton and Troy High Schools for several years during that time.  She took great pride in the library’s support of the students and faculty and the collections she built. 

After the death of her first husband in 1986, she married Gerald “Jerry” Tatge and they were devoted to one another for over thirty years.  Mary Ann was a very talented pianist and shared her love of music with her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, neighbors and friends.  She was known by her extended family as the family historian and shared her deep and very entertaining knowledge of family stories and history.  

Mary Ann will be remembered by her children and their spouses, Spencer (Joyce) Covert, Lucinda (Chris) Covert-Vail, Addison (Debra) Covert, and her grandchildren Laurel (Ross) Stensrud, Meghan (Michael) Russell, Spencer (Jennifer) Covert, and Alicia (Joseph) Blackwood.  She has 5 great grandchildren, Roscoe and Mason Stensrud, Matthew and Max Russell and Priscilla Blackwood, all of whom she loved very much.  

Mary Ann will also be remembered by her step daughters Shelly, Terri, Kimberly (David) Lindgren and their children, Alfred (Kristy) Pluma, Candice (Eric) Castillo and Jestin Tatge.  She is also survived by six great step grandchildren, Savannah, Colton and Mason Pluma, Melia Alexander, and Makaila and Mariella Castillo, whom she adored. 

Mary Ann was preceded in death by her parents and her brothers, Harris, Ernest “Buddy”, Carlton, and Forest Keene. 

Mary Ann was known for her integrity, sharp sense of right and wrong, generosity, love of family and enthusiasm for politics, birding, opera, her musicianship and her beloved piano.  She will be forever missed.   

The graveside service will take place on Thursday, October 1st at 11am, at the Santa Ana Cemetery, 1919 E. Santa Clara,  Santa Ana, California.   A celebration of Mary Ann’s life will be held at a later date when it is safe to do so. 

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Mary Ann’s name to the Audubon Society  https://www.audubon.org/or The Metropolitan Opera at https://www.metopera.org/support/make-a-gift/