Mary Elizabeth, known as Betty by all who knew and loved her, passed in her sleep early Saturday morning March 28, 2009 at the age of 86. She was a loving and caring mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and great-great-grandmother and cherished friend to many.
Mary was born Mary Elizabeth Hughett in Taft, CA on June 30, 1922. She grew up in Taft, Buttonwillow and Bakersfield, CA where she attended High School. After her marriage to Earl Ditmore in 1939 Mary and her husband lived in Buttonwillow, Bakersfield and then Shafter, CA where her two children Dana Carl and Donna Leah attended grammar school. The family moved to Hanford, CA in 1954 and then to Stockton, CA in 1955 where her children completed their high school educations. Mary was a very active mom being a Den Mother for Dana’s Cub Scout Troop and a Parent Leader for Donna in Bluebirds, and continuing as an active and involved parent into their adult lives. Once grandchildren began to arrive in 1962 she then became an active and involved grandmother. She was also a full-time working mom for several small businesses over her career as a bookkeeper until retirement.
Mary loved everyone who touched her life no matter how briefly. Her beaming smile and always open and friendly manner endeared her to everyone whom she met, right from the very start. In 2004 she moved to San Martin, CA to live with her son Dana and his wife Elaine. Living with her family afforded her the opportunity to regularly see her two granddaughters who live locally, Juli Hall and Kelli Ringer, and her five great-grandsons who lived locally Logan, Cade, Eli and Rhys Hall and Bill Archbold. In the past 4 years Mary volunteered with the Mt. Madonna YMCA – Senior Center in Morgan Hill, CA. She developed many great friendships as a result of that experience. Mary also periodically attended Rotary Club of Morgan Hill meetings with her son and counted the entire Rotary membership as her extended family.
Mary is survived by her son Dana and his wife Elaine, her granddaughter Juli Hall, her husband Rhett Hall and their four sons Logan, Cade, Eli and Rhys Hall, her granddaughter Kelli Ringer and grandson Bill Archbold, her granddaughter Alicia Albanez, her husband Albert Albanez and their children Kayleigh Maruffo, Calvin DiFalco and Rio Albanez, her granddaughter Donna Latham and her 3 daughters, Leanna, Emma and Katie Latham, her grandson John Ditmore and his son Joshua and her grandson and daughter-in-law Chris and Jennifer Ditmore and their son Zachary and daughter Ashley Ditmore, and her two great-great- grandsons Nathan and Landon Maruffo, the children of her great-granddaughter Kayleigh Maruffo and her husband Nathan. Mary was preceded in death by her daughter Donna Leah Vawser in 1981 and her husband Earl Ditmore in December of 1989.
There will be a life celebration reception for Mary with family and friends on Sunday April 19, 2009 at the San Martin home of Dana and Elaine Ditmore starting at 11:00 A.M. Donations in Mary’s memory can be made to the Mt. Madonna YMCA – Senior Center, and mailed to the Centennial Recreation Senior Center, c/o Susan Fent, 171 W. Edmundson Avenue, Morgan Hill, CA 95037.
