Services are scheduled for 10 a.m. Wednesday, June 1, at LaGrone Funeral Chapel in Roswell for Mary Pounds, longtime resident of Roswell and most recently of Artesia.
Pounds, 92, passed from this earthly life May 27, 2016, at her home in Artesia.
Interment will follow the services at Memory Lawn Memorial Park in Roswell. Pallbearers will be Dwayne Pounds, Donnie Pounds, Jason Starnes, Cooper Rickman, Justin Cabe, Matt Bennett and Brooke Owens. Honorary pallbearer, and one of Mary’s biggest fans, is Dylan Baker.
Mary was born June 16, 1923, in Lansing Township, Gruber Ridge, Iowa, the eldest of six children born to Leo and Catherine (Corrigan) Strub. Her younger siblings include Dolores Damon of LaCrescent, Wisc., Theresa Grzecka of Buena Park, Calif., Leeanette Whalen of Elkador, Iowa, and twins James Strub and John Strub of Lansing, Iowa.
Mary grew up on a farm in Iowa and was no stranger to hard work up until very recently. She attended “sister school” (a convent) through eighth grade and stayed at the convent with the sisters through the winter. Her parents paid for her boarding by providing food raised on their home farm for the school. During her teenage years, Mary worked on the farm, cleaned for local people, and worked in the town’s button factory.
In 1941, she met Edward Knopf, and the two married in 1942. To this union were born six daughters: Margaret Christianson, Catherine Zahn, Cecilia Gray, Ruth Wall, Agnes Garin and Joan Yeager. To these six daughters and their husbands were born 15 grandchildren and numerous great- and great-great-grandchildren.
Mary grew acres of gardens and helped build a motel, where she worked as an owner/operator until 1973. She loved to ride horses and mules, sew, crochet, cook, and bake for relaxation. She was famous for her amazing Christmas cookies.
In 1973, Mary moved to Roswell. She married L.C. “Buck” Pounds in 1975, and the couple was together for 25 years until his passing in 2000. She loved and was loved by Buck’s family: Doyle Pounds and wife Dixie, and Verna Owens and late husband Ray, all of Artesia, as well as their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
She attended Assumption Catholic Church and First Baptist Church in Roswell and, most recently, First Baptist Church in Artesia, where she particularly loved her Sunday School class.
Mary was one of the most thankful people we have ever known, even for small things, and very often expressed this to others with phrases we will always remember: “Many thanks!” and “Thanks, thanks, thanks!” She consistently expressed thankfulness for her Heavenly Father’s loving care and blessings.
She was preceded in death by her brother, John Strub; her mother, Catherine Strub; her father, Leo Strub; her first husband, Ed Knopf; and her second husband, L.C. “Buck” Pounds.
Arrangements are under the direction of LaGrone Funeral Chapel. Condolences may be expressed online at www.lagronefuneralchapels.com.
