Mary Ann Batchelder Garner, 74, of Mesa, Arizona, died November 7, 2021, of natural causes. Mary Ann was born December 24, 1946, to Charles and Erna Batchelder in Oxford, Maine.
Mary Ann grew up on a dairy farm and graduated from Windham High School. She attended Brigham Young University where she met her eternal companion, Owen Despain Garner. They were married in the Salt Lake City Temple on August 12, 1966. They lived in Windham, Maine, Riverton, Utah, and Mesa, Arizona, during their 55 years together. They made many lifelong friends in these locations and served faithfully in many callings in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
Mary Ann was known as an amazing baker and seamstress and she used these talents to thoughtfully bring happiness and comfort to her family and to others in innumerable quiet acts of service.
Mary Ann worked various jobs in her lifetime, but her true and most rewarding jobs were being a wife and mother. Her children can, indeed, “arise up and call her blessed”. (Psalm 31:28) She loved her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren beyond measure.
Mary Ann has two surviving sisters, Carlene (Chris) Crandall of Windham, Maine, and Rebecca (Jay) Battersby of Solon, Maine.
Mary Ann is survived by her husband, Owen Despain Garner, of the home, and five children: Carrie Strong of Mesa, AZ, Shauna Tracy (Frank) of Glen Carbon, IL, Amy Helbig (Gerrit) of Mesa, AZ, Eric (Lorina) Garner, of Billings, MT, and Evan Garner, of Longview, WA, 12 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren. Mary Ann was preceded in death by her parents and her brother, Robert Batchelder.
Opportunities to celebrate Mary Ann’s life with family and friends will take place November 12 at 6:30pm at the Alta Mesa Stake Center, 5350 E. McLellan Road, Mesa, AZ, and November 19 from 6-8pm at the Windham Ward building, 755 River Road, Windham, ME. Interment will be November 19, 2021, at Woodlawn Cemetery in Westbrook, Maine. Condolences may be expressed through Bunker Mortuary of Mesa, AZ.
Arrangements by Bunker’s University Chapel, www.bunkerfuneral.com. Should this obituary appear anywhere but www.bunkerfuneral.com, please check our website for accurate details and service information.
Mary Ann has been the kindest soul I’ve met when I started working at US Airways. She was my trainer and been very patient with me. I was broken hearted when she moved to another department. Many years had past and will not forget her kind heart and happy nature. Praying for the whole family and I am very saddened of her passing. Mary Ann is with our Lord now.
I worked with Mary Ann for many years. We had a lot of laughs, shared recipes, took a couple of trips to San Francisco and Carlsbad. She made the best sugar cookies. Most of all she was the kindest and most genuine person. She was a great friend and will be missed dearly.
My thoughts and prayers are with you all.
Priscilla
Mary Ann had a great smile and “wicked” sense of humor. She was patient and kind. I will be forever grateful that she took a chance on me and got me into a great career. I will always think of her happy and smiling.
I was 15 I think when my friend Neil and I went to dinner at the house in Windham. She had made enchiladas — which I had never had before — and they were soooo good! It is my favorite food to order at Mexican restaurants. I think that she worked in Primary with my mom also. I have fond memories of their time in the Portland Ward. God bless you all with peace and comfort.
Mary Ann you will be missed. I worked with Mary Ann for several years at U S Airways. She was always so kind and sweet. Always willing to help and she was a fabulous baker! Sending love & prayers for the family!😘🙏
This dear woman came into our lives when we moved onto their East Hobart Street in Mesa in the 1990’s. She was serving as Relief Society President in the Princess Park Ward and she soon had Linda serving with her as a counselor. They forged a close, enduring friendship during that time of service together. Mary Ann and Owen had us in their home for dinner several different times. One of these was for a New England Boiled Dinner! This woman could cook! She made the best, we mean the very best apple pie – to die for! More than once or twice Terry would ask Mary Ann to bake him an apple pie and there on our doorstep would be this amazing freshly baked pie! She had married such a good ma . Owen .. just the best! They were so good to us. On our 35th wedding anniversary trip to New England, Mary Ann arranged for us to stay with her sister, Becky Batchelder in Windham, Maine. Becky welcomed us to her home and treated us like family, taking time to take us to see some of the historic sights along the coast of Maine before we traveled on. When we moved to the west side of town to be closer to Terry’s father after Terry’s mother passed away, it was Owen and the boys who came without being asked and helped Terry lay new shingles on the roof of our newly acquired little home on North Orange Street. That’s just the way Mary Ann and Owen were, caring and serving those around them. When we were called to serve a mission in 2006, we let Mary Ann and Owen know when we would be speaking in Church. Terry told Mary Ann he sure would like it if she would bake him an apple pie. When we walked into the chapel before the start of the service, there on the back row sat Owen and Mary Ann! On her lap was a cardboard box containing an apple pie – a big, big smile on her sweet face! What a woman! We shall always cherish her happy, kind and caring influence in our life. To Owen and the family our love and prayers, always.