Martha "Mickey" McDonald Lemon was born April 6, 1939, to Taylor and Florence McDonald in Silver City, New Mexico. Mickey passed away at home on January 4, 2025. She is survived by her sister Susie Salars, husband Rawlings, daughter Cari, step-daughter Liz Rodriguez, and many beloved family members and friends.
Mickey's love of the outdoors began from the young age of 4 years old. She got her first horse at that time and named him Mexican Joe. She describes him as "old, lazy, and white. The grandest horse in the world!" Mickey loved being on the ranch she grew up on, loved everything about it. She'd say, "All I ever wanted to be is a Cowboy!" One of the hardest things was leaving when she went off to attend New Mexico State University (NMSU).
During those years at NMSU, Mickey made lifelong friends with her Chi Omega sorority sisters and some of their beaus that would later become husbands. Over many years the group would gather for reunions and adventures together. Truly a fun bunch of people that cared a lot about each other!
Mickey began her teaching career where she lived and taught in several places; California, Lake Tahoe, Nevada, and Colorado. She eventually made her way back to Silver City and changed careers. She went into accounting with Brown & Root and worked in Playas and Lordsburg, where she met Rawlings. They married in 1977, and later had their daughter Cari.
Rawlings' job meant a lot of moving. The family moved to several locations around Texas, Alabama, Arizona, then eventually back to Silver City in the summer of 1986. Mickey continued to work different accounting jobs for the mines in Tyrone, Chino, and Playas.
Continuing her love of the outdoors, Mickey and Rawlings began taking pack trips all over the Gila wilderness and beyond. Eventually, they became long time members of the Gila Back Country Horseman (GBCH), the local chapter of Back Country Horsemen of New Mexico and Back Country Horsemen of America. They made great friendships with BCH members and had years of wonderful horse pack trips in the wilderness. The two also became quite skilled in the art if Dutch oven cooking. Mickey even won first place in a cooking competition with her Fruit Cocktail Cake!
As a daughter, sister, aunt, friend, wife, and mother, Mickey has these things in common: She is honest, intelligent, funny as heck, organized, clever, a natural leader, kind, welcoming, and courageous. The last several months of her life really highlighted the core of her spirit. Through the extremely difficult health challenges she faced, she maintained her kindness and sense of humor. This proved to be one heck of a ride, and her core essence was not shaken. She had the strength and intelligence to call her own shots to the end. As a family, we are so grateful for that and we have honored her wishes. So, you see Mickey, you have been a great cowboy your whole life and we are all blessed to have known you! Ride on....
A memorial service will be held at the Silver City Woman's Club on Saturday, January 18, 2025 at 11:00 AM. In lieu of flowers, consider donations to Gila Chapter, Back County Horsemen of New Mexico. https://www.gilabch.org/donate Or, the National Kidney Foundation https://www.kidney.org/ , or charity of your choice.
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.
