Mary Pidduck Bliss

1920 - 2010

After a rich and full life of over ninety years, Mary Pidduck Bliss passed away on December 28, 2010 surrounded by her family.

Born on May 10, 1920, she grew up on the Pidduck family farm, now a shopping center at the corner of East Main Street and Telephone Road. She attended Montalvo Elementary School, Cabrillo Junior High School and Ventura High School before graduating from Pomona College in 1941. It was at Pomona that she met and later married Arthur C. Bliss, her husband of fifty-seven years.

During World War II, Mary worked for the Red Cross at the Seabee Base, Port Hueneme while Art served as a Marine in the South Pacific. At the end of the war, they made their home on the family farm with Mary's father teaching Art the basics of farming. The farm became a social center for many young couples returning from the war with evenings often spent playing badminton in the large, red barn.

As Ventura grew, and Highway101 became a freeway, Mary and Art moved their family to the Las Posas Valley, where they built their home and planted the hillside to avocados. Mary was first and foremost a wife and mother. As her children grew older, she obtained a teaching credential and taught second grade at Laguna Vista Elementary School.

In her later life, she and Art enjoyed numerous trips with close friends. She continued to be active in civic groups including the Red Cross, the Ventura County Museum of History, PEO, Poinsettia Club and the Church of the Foothills. Even into her eighties she volunteered weekly as a tutor to younger students.

In 1999, she lost the one true love of her life with the passing of her husband.

She is survived by her children and their spouses, Arthur Bliss (Toy White), Kay Bliss (Marty Babayco) and Barbara Gillette (Bill), as well as seven grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made to the Ventura County Museum of History (100 East Main St., Ventura, 93001), The American Red Cross (836 Calle Plano, Camarillo, 93010), or a charity of choice. A celebration of her life will be held on Friday, January 7, 2011 at 1 p.m. at Church of the Foothills (6279 Foothill Rd., Ventura).