Mary Middleton McBride

Mary Middleton McBride, 88, passed away on February 19, 2020.

Mary was born in Gothenburg, Nebraska in 1931 and grew up on her family's farm.  She graduated from University of Nebraska in Lincoln in 1953 with a BS in business education. She was a proud Chi Omega and Cornhusker. Mary attended the Dale Carnegie school in 1962 and went on to attend graduate classes at Baldwin Wallace University, American University in DC and University of Denver before receiving a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of New Mexico in 1980. In 1988 she received her Masters in Technology & Occupational Education.

She married Bill McBride in March 5, 1962 and had three children.  During the children's school hours Mary was a prolific artist.  She painted southwestern landscapes, geometric abstracts and explored cartoon sketching.  She was skilled in watercolor, acrylic and oil.  Mary also created macrame wall hangings and in retirement transferred her fine arts knowledge into quilting.  

Mary had a long career teaching typing and computer technology in both the Albuquerque Public Schools and the Technology Vocational Institute (TVI). She was also an avid republican who worked as a Precinct and Ward Chairman coordinating 40 area coordinators and over 500 volunteers and her political work culminated in running a New Mexico gubernatorial race as a campaign manager. Mary got her political start in 1954-58 when she worked in Washington, DC as a personal secretary to Nebraska's US House of Representative, Robert Harrison.

Mary's hobbies were traveling and playing piano.  She visited Cuba in early 1961, Australia, New Zealand, Spain and Russia.  She was a docent for the Albuquerque Museum of Art for over 15 years.   She loved attending the Santa Fe Opera and managed their monthly newsletter for them.  She brought home several rescue dogs, including her most loved Maus named for the opera Die Fledermaus.

Her professional organizations consisted of Albuquerque Arts Alliance; Albuquerque Symphony Women's Association; Albuquerque Federated Republican Women; American Association of University Women.

Mary is survived by her son Eric McBride (Denver, CO), her daughter Lisa McBride (Washington, D.C.) and daughter Lorna (McBride) Wolf, husband Lance Wolf, their daughter Charlotte Wolf (Breckenridge, CO).

Mary Middleton's photo tribute https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jx5EJRDU2Yk

Michele Sapio, one of Mary Middleton's caregivers created this short digital story that includes Mary's quilts.  The Artist Within 

Funeral Service held on February 25th at 11:00am at the Horan & McConaty Family Chapel at 7577 West 80th Avenue, Arvada, CO 80003.

And Funeral Service on February 28th at 2:00pm at the Banner United Methodist Church at 43111 East Banner Road, Gothenburg, NE 60138 with Blase Strausser Memorial.

Mary will be laid to rest in her hometown of Gothenburg, Nebraska.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to:

Albuquerque Museum Foundation

PO Box 7006, Albuquerque, NM 87194 ~ 505-842-0111

https://albuquerquemuseumfoundation.org/give/

or

American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals

PO Box 96929, Washington, DC 20090 ~ 800-628-0028

https://www.aspca.org/ways-to-give

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