Mary Steinkamp

Mary Fowler Steinkamp, 80, passed away from Covid on January 26, at a Farmington Hospital.  At this time no memorial service is planned.  Mary was born June 18, 1940, at home in Haskell, Texas, to Willard E. and Mary Roberts Fowler.  She moved with her family as a baby to Sudan, Texas, and then to Amherst, Texas, where she graduated from high school in 1958.
Mary went on to earn her to earn her bachelor’s degree from Hardin Simmons University, Abilene, Texas, and her master’s degree from the University of Texas, Austin.  Mary began her career in education as a teacher in Slaton, Texas, where she was an elementary school bi-lingual and special education teacher.   She married Billy N. McKinney shortly after graduating from college.  While living in Slaton they welcomed their first child, Jane Elizabeth McKinney, who passed away at nine months old.  The McKinney family moved to Amarillo, Texas, where they welcomed a second daughter, Judy Marie McKinney, into the family.  Mary continued to teach in Amarilla at the Texas State School where she was an Educational Diagnostician.  She moved to Gallup, NM, with her daughter.  She taught in Jemez Indian schools and joined the Gallup school district.  For the rest of her education career, she was an educational diagnostician in several New Mexico school systems.
Mary was a devoted Christian and ministered in churches with a beautiful soprano voice.  Her love of children extended to her personal life.  She welcomed several teenagers who needed a safe place into her home while living in New Mexico.  Two daughters became a permanent part of her family.  She married Royce Steinkamp in 1993 and welcomed five stepchildren into her life.  Mary and Royce were active members of LaPlata Baptist Church in Farmington.
She was proceeded in death by her daughter Jane, her parents, one sister Glenda, one brother Jerry, one grandson and one nephew.
Mary is survived by her husband of 27 years, Royce Steinkamp; eight children, Judy McKinney Klein of Missouri, Tammy Ziegler of Nebraska, Carroll Harrington of Oklahoma, Letha Steinkamp of Tennessee, Benjamin Steinkamp of New Mexico, Clarisa Steinkamp Simpson of Arizona, Robert Steinkamp of New Mexico, and Deanna Steinkamp of Kansas; one brother, Will Fowler and one sister, Ruth Fowler, both of Texas; nine grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.   She is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews.