Mary Evalyn Blackwood

Mary Evalyn Blackwood, age 91, was welcomed home by her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ into heaven on October 23, 2024. She was quickly greeted by her loving husband of 40 years, Max A. Blackwood. Mary was born on July 23, 1933, in Snyder Oklahoma to her parents, Henry and Oleta Martin. She shared this birthdate with her identical twin sister Betty Martin Haynie.

 Mary grew up in Snyder Oklahoma where she attended school and helped her parents with the local newspaper family-owned business. After graduating high school, she attended Oklahoma State University in Stillwater Oklahoma. While visiting home on break from college, Mary was introduced to a “tall dark handsome man” whom she immediately told her friends, I just met my future husband. This man whom had returned home from serving in WWII and was working and attending Cameron University in Lawton Oklahoma. After a whirl wind romance Max and Mary were married on July 27, 1957, in Snyder Oklahoma. Immediately they took off and moved to Farmington New Mexico where a job was waiting for her husband with El Paso Natural Gas Co. Shortly after arriving they settled into the EPNG/SJRP Camp life in Kirtland New Mexico. They lived in the same house during this time with EPNG where they raised three children. Once her kids became school age Mary would work as a substitute teacher in the Kirtland school system. In later years, up to her retirement, Mary worked for various Pawn Shops in the area dedicating most of her time with the Jewel Box Pawn Shop. Mary was a dedicated member of Kirtland Baptist Church in Kirtland New Mexico up until her husband’s retirement when her and Max moved to Farmington and both became a member of Emmanuel Baptist Church. After she lost her husband in 1997, she remained in Farmington where she had a group of ladies she enjoyed attending Wednesday bible study, shopping with friends, spending time with grandchildren and traveling back and forth to Oklahoma City to spend time with her sister Betty. 

Mary was preceded in death by her husband of 40 years Max Blackwood, sister Betty Haynie (Harold), parents Henry and Oleta Martin, brother/sister-in-law Wilton and Helen (June) Blackwood, brother-in-law John Godfrey, niece Diane Godfrey. She is survived by her children, Lynn Blackwood, Las Cruces New Mexico, Leah Hansen (Brooks), St. George Utah, and Lisa Akins (Randy), Farmington New Mexico, Sister-in-law Patsy Godfrey, Tyler Texas. Grandkids, Brandon Manning, Jeff Manning (Andrea), Marchea Pitts (Tim), McKenzie Fernandez (Josh), Zach Blackwood, Marquel Baxter (Johnathan), Kamryn Blackwood, Jacob Manning (Kate), Kailynn Blackwood, Natalie Martin, Ross Martin. Step grandkids, Holly Kelley (Billy), Lindsie Eudey (Ethan), Ashley Akins, and Tommy Akins. Great grandkids, Ike, Emma, Mary, Mason, Lia, Mae, Weston, Rylen, Ella, Anna, Thomas, Samuel, Sophie and Emma. Step great-grandkids, Ellie, Ari, Knox, Braxton, and Ayla.

 Mary will be celebrated on Saturday, November 2 at 10:00 am at Emmanuel Baptist Church in Farmington officiated by her son Lynn. She will be laid to rest, alongside her husband at Memory Gardens Cemetery immediately following the service. A lunch for family and friends will be at Emmanuel Baptist Church fellowship hall immediately following burial. 

Pallbearers are Jeff Manning, Jacob Manning, Zach Blackwood, Ross Martin, Tommy Akins and Mason Manning. The family wishes to thank all those who cared for Mary over the last several years, Bee Hive Homes, Namaste, The Bridge, and the wonderful staff at Lifecare.