Mary Louise (Jones) VanBuskirk, October 21, 1937 to May 7, 2019

Mrs. VanB has passed away. She was truly many things to many people over her life, a life that started and ended in Grant County. She was a mother to Chris and Mark, a loving and inspirational person to their husbands, Tom and Michael, and a doting grandmother to Bill and Maddie. She was a friend and she was a daughter and, for a time, a wife. 

Mary Louise was born on the Mimbres to Juanita and Ralph Jones. They had a large family of six children but only Mary Louise and her two brothers, Sonny and Pete, survived to adulthood. The family lived both in Santa Rita and Hurley during her childhood where her dad worked for the mine. Mary Louise graduated from Cobre High and married her high school sweetheart, Larry. She attended and graduated from WNMU, earning an education degree and was hired as a teacher for Silver High School.

This led to her beloved career as a high school teacher--her dream job. Through her long career she educated three generations of Fighting Colts, teaching them typing and shorthand, but primarily the debits and credits of life. There are many in Grant County and beyond that owe their accounting foundational skills to Mrs. VanB. She produced CPA’s and accountants in her own family and in many other Silver High families. Her contributions to the students at Silver High didn’t stop in the classroom.  She sponsored the National Honor Society for many years, acted as the cheerleader sponsor, as well as a faculty advisor for many Silver High proms.

She would spend four decades wearing Blue and Silver on game days and warming many bleachers cheering on her Colts. For any team which delivered a district or better championship, there was always a special incentive delivered by Mrs. VanB to the victorious—her famous Mississippi Mud Cake; enough for the entire team, whether large or small. The cake is still remembered by SHS athletes of long past. Even after she and her best buddies retired, they could still be found at Fighting Colt athletics of all kinds.

She was a confidante and life coach for students during high school and beyond. She wrote over a 1000 reference letters for her students advocating for them to receive college scholarships, important internships and jobs. Her students remember her fondly and still speak of her contributions to their lives. She was also well known for her ability to break up a girl fight in the high school halls, even into her late sixties. Many a mischievous student became acquainted with her ice-cold stare. She loved high school students. Her home was always a busy one full of kids, whether they were friends of Chris’ or Mark’s, students needing homework help, or working on other school projects.

A celebration for Mrs. VanB will be held on May 24 at 2:00pm, The last day of school. The service will be at her home church, Valley Community Church in Arenas Valley. She began attending this church as a girl when it was located in Santa Rita, before it was moved in 1965.

The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, you consider donating to a scholarship set up in the name of Mary Louise VanBuskirk at Silver High School. Donations may be sent to: Silver High Registrar, Tammy Windsor, 3200 North Silver Street, Silver City, NM, 88061. Cremation has taken place at Terrazas Crematory.  Arrangements are with Terrazas Funeral Chapels and Crematory “Trusted care for the ones you love” ~ 575-537-0777.  To send condolences, visit www.terrazasfuneralchapel.com.