Mary Maskew

Services will be at 2:00 p.m. Monday, April 13, at Terpening amp; Son Chapel for former Artesia resident Mary Frances Giles Johnson Maskew of San Antonio, Texas. PMrs. Maskew went to her heavenly home on April 9, 2009 in San Antonio. Mary's perseverance and faith helped her survive the many challenges throughout her life. PRev. Rick Sullivan will be officiating at the services with burial at Woodbine Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Rick Johnson, Justin Johnson, K. C. Crouch, Chad Johnson, Bobby Hobbs, Lonnie Giles, Tom Giles, Roy Crouch amp; Sydney Giles. PVisitation will be at Terpening amp; Son Mortuary Monday beginning at 10:00 a.m. PMary Frances was born in Newton County, MS on May 6, 1915, the daughter of James T. Giles, Sr. and Fannie Nichols Giles. She was a basketball star and graduate of Center Ridge High School in Chunky, MS and East Central Jr. College in Decatur, MS. She also attended Mississippi-Alabama University in Meridan, MS. On December 24, 1935 in Decatur, MS, Mary Frances married Lamar Hailey Johnson, son of Robert and Lucy Johnson. Following their wedding, the young couple moved to Artesia, NM to begin their married life in the rural farming community. They were blessed with 2 daughters, Sharlene and Wanda, and 2 sons, Wilbur Hailey and Jerry Wayne. After the death of her brother Sam Giles, Mary Frances raised Michael Hebert Giles as her son. Following Hailey Johnson's death in 1954, she married, Wilburn R. Bill Maskew in 1966 in Levelland, TX. Mary Frances and Bill lived in Seattle, WA until they moved to Texas in 1971, and San Antonio became their home until their deaths. PMary Frances was a life-long member of the Baptist Denomination. While in Artesia she was an active member of the First Baptist Church, serving as a Sunday School teacher and as President of the WMU. At her death she was a member of the Calvary Hills Baptist Church of San Antonio. Among her civic endeavors, she was Noble Grand of the Sunrise Rebecca Lodge in Artesia, past President of the Glen Oaks Chapter of the AARP in San Antonio, active in the Leon Valley Grange, and a frequent card player at CASAS Helotes. A homemaker, Mary Frances was also an exceptional cook and seamstress, winning many blue ribbons for her needlecraft. She always had time for a game of cards, dice or dominos or to watch one of her favorite sports teams. PShe was preceded in death by her parents; both of her husbands; children Wanda Johnson and Mike Giles; step brothers James Otis Giles and William Hailey Giles; brothers J.T. Jake Giles, Samuel G. Giles, and Otho N. Nic Giles; sisters Helen Giles and Dorabel Nowell; grandchildren Don Jordan, Jr. and Janice Jordan. PShe is survived by her children Sharlene Jordan and husband Donald of San Antonio, TX, Wilbur Johnson and wife Patricia of Santa Teresa, N.M. and Jerry Johnson of Phoenix, AZ; grandchildren Rick Johnson and wife Liz of Dallas, TX, Dianna Crouch and husband Roy of Artesia, Justin Johnson and wife Rebecca of Sumter, SC, and Sharley Johnson of Brighton, CO; great-grandchildren Brandi Crouch Hobbs and husband Bobby, K. C. Crouch, Chad Johnson, Sarah Beth Johnson, Jared Johnson, Rei-Lynn Johnson, and Ryan Johnson; great-great grandchild Tatum Hobbs; brother-in-law Isham Marvin Johnson and wife Billie of San Antonio; sisters-in-law Mary Nic Giles of Artesia, Florene Johnson, and Clara Johnson; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Memorial Contribution may be made to the First Baptist Church, 322 W. Grand, Artesia, NM. 88210, Calvary Hills Baptist Church, 910 West Loop 1604N, San Antonio, TX 78251-3245 or the Janice Helen Jordan Scholarship Fund, Texas Tech Univ., College of Human Sciences, Box 41162, Lubbock, TX 79409-1162.