Obituary of Mary Havens

View Video Tribute Longtime Stratton, Colorado resident Mary Hatten Havens passed away on May 30, 2009 at the Grace Manor Care Center in Burlington. She was 76 years old. Mary was born on July 1, 1932 in Garden City, Kansas to Edmund and Evelyn (Lemmon) Wright. She was one of two children. Mary attended school in Flagler and Fort Morgan and graduated from Fort Morgan High School in 1950. Mary served in the United States Army from 1950 to 1952. This is where she met and married Edward L Parker on April 20, 1952. They had two children Patricia Diane and Edward L Parker III. On September 8, 1962, Mary married the love of her life James Jerden Havens in Fort Morgan, Colorado. To this union one daughter Penni was born. Mary was the long time Avon Lady of Stratton for 39 years. She always greeted newcomers to town by delivering them books and welcoming them to the community. This was not a job to Mary but a social aspect of her life. Her customers were thought of as dear friends. She was highly regarded in the Avon realm earning years of prestigious awards for sales and accolades for customer service. Another one of Mary’s passions was driving the school bus. Mary began driving in Fort Morgan after becoming a widow, moving home and being faced with raising two small children alone. After moving to Stratton she found herself back behind the seat in 1968. This is where you would see her morning and night for 33 years. Having the same route, Mary saw many two generation families step onto her bus as small children and leave as young adults. She loved them all and had many funny stories to share. Mary was preceded in death by her parents, in laws Elmer and Alice, sister in law Pat Havens, brothers in law Lloyd Wilkinson and Donald Havens and her first husband Edward Parker. She is survived by her husband James Havens of Stratton, her daughter Penni Fox and her husband Donald of Stratton, son Edward Parker III of Fort Morgan, Colorado and daughter Patty Peterson of Conifer, Colorado. She is also survived by six grandchildren Jesse, Luke, Katie, Ryan, Sara and Morgan three great grandchildren Tyler, McKenzie and Lily, sister Jo Ellen Ausmus and her husband George of Lamar, brother in laws Ralph Havens of Colorado Springs, Les Havens and wife Tene of Montrose and sister in law Virginia Wilkinson of Goodland Kansas, along with numerous nieces and nephews. Memorial services for Mary were held on Thursday, June 4, 2009 at 10:30 AM at the Stratton Church of God in Stratton with Pastor Michael Mattocks officiating. Inurnment was held in the Claremont Cemetery with Military Honors provided by the Stratton American Legion. Memorials may be made in Mary’s name to the Pink Chaps Fund and may be left at the East Colorado Bank and Trust in Stratton, Colorado.