Devoted wife, mother, and grandmother, Mary Ellen Dunn-Stephens of Phoenix, Arizona, passed away on Saturday, May 18, 2024, at the age of 70. She was preceded in death by her parents, Maynard and Louise Dunn; and her brothers, Willard and Doug Dunn.
Mary Ellen was born on January 22, 1954, in Sterling, Colorado. She graduated from Fort Collins High School in 1972, Western International University in 1995, and Rio Salado College in 1996. She moved to Arizona in 1981, where she raised her family and lived the rest of her life.
Professionally, Mary Ellen had varied interests, which allowed her to do everything from farming to providing counseling for individuals with substance use disorders experiencing homelessness. Yet, she had one constant passion: genealogy. She traveled around the country and world looking for lost ancestors and was particularly adept in African American genealogy. As a genealogist, she started her own genealogy business, Crosslinks, which was active until her death.
She was a woman of many talents and interests. A gifted musician, she proficiently played multiple instruments, including the piano and ukulele. She even sang as a member of the Arizona Mormon Tabernacle Choir for several years. When she was not performing as a musician, she was dancing. She competed in ballroom dancing and Hula as part of a Hulau.
Mary Ellen’s boundless compassion meant she opened her home to people and animals without a place to sleep or food to eat. She was always surrounded by an array of animals. In her spare time, she also made personalized and thoughtful slideshows, ornate jewelry, and gardened. In the last few years, she developed an extensive doll collection that she proudly displayed.
Mary Ellen’s greatest love was her family, which she deeply cared for and supported in any way she could. She is survived by her loving husband, Steve Santos; her daughters, Sandi Walls and Kerri Burchfield; her grandchildren, Natasha Walls Smith, Brittney Walls, Jayden Walls, Taytum Walls, Joshua Nickerson, Raven Burchfield, and Jasmine Burchfield; and her great-grandchildren, Malachi and Mordecai Love. She will be greatly missed.
Family, friends, and all whose lives were touched by Mary Ellen are invited to a visitation on May 31, 2024, at 11:00 AM at Phoenix Memorial Park and Mortuary, located at 200 W. Beardsley Rd., Phoenix, AZ 85027. Funeral services will follow at 12:00 PM, with a committal service at 1:00 PM at the same location.
Phoenix Memorial Park and Mortuary has been entrusted with the arrangements. To send expressions of sympathy, upload photographs, or share fond memories of Mary Ellen, please visit www.phoenixmemorialmortuary.com.
In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to Cat House on the Kings in memory of Mary Ellen Tribute Donation (cathouseonthekings.com)
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