Mary Avitia

On April 18, 2025, Mary Avitia fulfilled her lifelong dream of knowing what the afterlife entails. Mary passed away peacefully with family at her bedside and in spirit. Mary R. Avitia (nee March) was born on December 28, 1947, in Portland, Oregon to Ray and Helen March. She and her sister attended Leigh High School in San Jose, California where she graduated. Mary worked for the State of California before relocating with her best friend to Roswell, New Mexico. Shortly after she met Jose Avitia while at a horse racetrack and they married in October 1984. Mary worked for the Roswell Job Corp, before deciding to stay home and co-manage the family farm in Dexter until her retirement. Mary became involved in the Chaves County 4-H Program with her son in the 80’s and continued to support and volunteer her time. When her daughter became a member of the Dexter FFA program as well, Mary added that to her time and would make pies and help with fundraising. Mary loved watching her kids compete and enjoyed supporting the youth in the programs alongside her husband. Mary in her earlier years loved to surf the West Coast, meet musicians, and travel. As she got older, she enjoyed cooking, drawing, painting, attending church, volunteering her time with senior programs in the area and spending time with her family. Mary was a well-known local to the North Roswell area where she would cruise in her motorized scooter shopping and running errands, not only to herself but for others. Her grandkids joke now, but they used to love when she would cruise with them through the Church’s Chicken drive thru after school. Mary was a loving, supportive mother, wife, and grandmother. She is survived by her ex-husband Jose Avitia, whom she loved until her last breath holding his hand. She also leaves behind her sons, Jim May of Oberlin, Kansas, Joshua and Terra Dougan of Huntsville, Texas, and her daughter Raquel and Jeremiah Huggins of Washington, Missouri. Grandchildren, Shelby, Tiffany, Brittany, Joshua, Jose, Abbegale, Madeline, Gabriella, and Raistlin, along with her great-grandchildren, Jasper, June, Waylon, Jonah, Cole, and Maverick. As well as numerous other family members. She is preceded in death by her father, mother, stepmother, sister, best friend Betsy, and her dog, Claire. The family would like to thank Gentiva Hospice Services for providing Mary with comfort and dignity in her final days. They also appreciate all her friends and community members who brought her joy and have reached out to share their stories of her. A celebration of life held on Sunday, June 22, 2025, at 2:00 PM, held at the Wildwood Apartments located at 201 Sherill Lane, in Roswell, New Mexico.

Mary Avitia

December 28, 1947 - April 18, 2025