Mary Elizabeth Redfern-White, age 43, of Salida, died Saturday February 27, 2010 at her residence from complications of Osteosarcoma. She was born December 26, 1966 in Wheat Ridge, Colorado to Ralph and Judy (McElhinny) Redfern.
Mary graduated from Smokey Hill High School in Aurora, Colorado in 1985. She was united in marriage to Robert White on January 10, 1987 in Estes Park, Colorado. She then graduated from Regis University in Denver in 1990 with a B.A., majoring in Education, English, Psychology and Spanish. Mary received her Master’s Degree in Educational Counseling from the University of Phoenix, Colorado Campus, in 1996.
She started her elementary teaching career with the Cherry Creek School District at Mission Viejo in 1990. She subsequently taught at Village East and Peak View, all within the Cherry Creek School District. In 2001, she started teaching at Longfellow Elementary School in Salida, Colorado, where she worked until she began her battle with cancer in 2009.
Mary was a wonderful wife and mother who loved her family and her home in Salida. She also especially enjoyed spending time at her parent’s cabin in Estes Park, Colorado and hiking in Rocky Mountain National Park. She was an outstanding teacher with a wonderful sense of humor who dedicated her life to enriching the lives of her students. Mary was known for her teacher torture tools. Some of the tools she developed over the years included the brain tickler, super sticky bum glue, a heavy duty lip stapler, a tongue remover, floating eyeballs in a jar and a shrink-a-student kit.
Mary is survived by her husband Rob White of Salida, children Kayla and Meghan White of Salida, parents Ralph and Judy Redfern of Aurora, brother Nathan Redfern of Aurora, sister Becky Redfern of Denver and a nephew Riley Nelson of Denver. She is also survived by many aunts, uncles, cousins and dear friends.
A Celebration of Life will be held at 7:00 PM Wednesday March 3, 2010 at Longfellow Elementary School, 350 West 8th St. in Salida.
A Memorial Mass is scheduled for 11:00 AM Thursday March 4, 2010 at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 320 E. 5thSt. in Salida.
In lieu of flowers and in honor of Mary’s life and teaching career, the Mary Redfern-White Scholarship Fund has been setup at The High Country Bank in Salida, Colorado. The scholarship will be awarded every year to a Longfellow Elementary 3rdGrader. The recipient will receive a college scholarship when he/she graduates from high school. A fund raising event for the scholarship will be held at the Boathouse Cantina, 228 N. F St. in Salida on Thursday March 4, 2010 from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM.
If you can volunteer to help during Thursday night’s fundraiser please call LaVonne Meek 539-5360. We need help with set-up, take down, and sales at the end of the evening.
R.I.P
i was a student of mary’s and really would like to get in touch with her family.. i have some pictures and items i would like them to have.. please e mail me..