Mary Louis Haworth

Mary L. Haworth passed away on Wednesday, June 29, 2016, in Morro Bay, CA, after a short illness. She was born on February 21, 1924 in Phoenix, AZ to James and Gertrude Elliott and moved with her family, four sisters and one brother, to Palmdale, CA at a young age.

While attending Antelope Valley High School in 1942 she met and married Orville Haworth. This being shortly before the start of World War II it was a few years before the couple finally got settled in Downey, CA to raise three children. Mary was the quintessential 1950s mother, wife and homemaker, putting family care foremost in her activities. After retirement from waitressing and Orville's retirement from the City of Los Angeles, they relocated to Los Osos, CA, where Mary enjoyed activities such as jogging, golf and especially tennis, at which she excelled. After Orville passed away in 2003, Mary was sustained by the many friendships she had developed and nurtured throughout her life. She was a friend to all, she knew no strangers, handed biscuits to all dogs and their walkers, and was often seen walking the neighborhood with her own beloved Golden Retriever, Sadie.

Mary loved hosting birthday parties, jigsaw-puzzle-parties and wine tasting parties in her big back yard and seldom turned away from any opportunity to gather acquaintances at her home. Her life was filled with love for her friends and family and she was well loved in return.

Mary was very active up until the last three weeks of her life. Most recently she had established a native plant garden on the hillside behind her neighborhood and made several trips a week carrying gallon jugs of water to irrigate the plants she nurtured so diligently. On her 90th birthday Mary hiked with her family to the top of the Broderson Peak Trail where friends surprised her with a champagne toast and a birthday party. Not to be one to rest on past achievements, she encouraged her family again on her 92nd birthday to follow her up one of the tallest sand dunes in Montana de Oro, where she stood at the top of the dune with arms outstretched reveling in her magnificent enjoyment of life. There was never any stopping Mary and she was never one to sit still.

Mary is survived by her sister Esther Smith of Palmdale, CA, three children, her son James Haworth (Marie) of Quartz Hill, CA, and daughters Linda Tanner and Catherine Okada (Jay) of Los Osos, CA. She Has six grandchildren, four great grandchildren, and three great-great grandchildren, with a fourth on the way.

This special lady was dearly loved by her family and friends all of whom considered her to be a gift to the world. She will be missed by all who knew and loved her.

A Celebration of Mary's Life is in the planning stages and will be announced at a later date.