Mary Maureen Eldridge

Mary M. Eldridge of Grand Junction, peacefully passed away on August 18, 2024. Mary, as she was affectionately known to her family, was born in Denver, CO to Marvin S. and Margaret L. Hassig on November 9, 1937. She met the love of her life, Gene, at the Grace Brethren Church in Denver and they were married in that very same church on August 6, 1955. They had three children during their long and storied 66-year marriage, living a life full of adventures while creating many friendships.

Gene was enlisted in the USAF, leading them to a life of moving across the nation, this included Gene spending two years on isolated tours overseas, as Mary remained in the states managing the family and household on her own. While Mary had been born and raised in Colorado, she accepted her role as an “Air Force wife” and made the most of their times in Idaho, Colorado (numerous times), Texas, Nevada, Oklahoma, California, Utah, Alabama and Florida, before they settled down in Colorado for their remaining years. Mary was the anchor of the household as they move from state-to-state and always claimed that all of the moves were good as she had never lived in any place that she couldn’t enjoy. She also made many dear and lifelong friends.

Mary was always involved with her children’s activities, serving as home room aide during school years, Sunday School teacher, and leader of cub and girl scouts. Mary was “one of those moms” that always attended every childhood activity, concert, show, sporting event and organization meeting and was the first to volunteer to help. After years of encouraging her kids to focus on education to better prepare for life opportunities, in 1977 Mary enrolled at Gulf Coast State Community College and graduated, in 1979 with honors, with a degree in Dental Hygiene. She was so proud that she had the courage and ability to go back and get a degree as an adult student, and we were just as proud of her.

Mary was always happiest when spending time with her kids and grandchildren, baking/decorating amazing cakes, preparing fabulous family dinners, hosting parties and focusing on many different craft interests. She was most proud of her grandsons, Aron, Colin, Brian and Michael, and she was an important influence and role model as they all grew into successful men and husbands. Not done in having an influence, she welcomed three great-grandchildren, Isabell, Kieran and Mason, often commenting that it was her most important job to “spoil them”.

Mary is survived by sons Kent Eldridge and Frances Ryan, Kevin and Christine Eldridge, grandsons Aron and Amy Eldridge, Colin and Dr. Eliza Anderson (and their son, Kieran), Brian and Megan Eldridge (and their children, Isabell and Mason), and Michael and Shannon Eldridge, and many loved nieces, nephews, cousins, dear friends and other family. She was predeceased by her husband of 66 years, Gene, her daughter, Dana Eldridge, her twin sister, Jary Dailey, her brother, Dan Hassig, and her parents, Marvin and Margaret Hassig.

A private service will be held in October at the Veterans Memorial Cemetery of Western Colorado in Grand Junction, where she will be reunited with Gene. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you consider a donation to HopeWest, the hospice organization that supported Mary (www.hopewestco.org).