Mary Lashley

1.There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: 

2. A time to be born (Mena, Arkansas October 18, 1924 at the base of Rich Mountain) and a time to die (January 4th, 2025 Taos, NM), a time to plant {she moved to Dallas at the age of 21, married at 23 and started a family...son James F Oiesen (Rick) and daughter Mary Jeo Oiesen (Jeo)} and a time to uproot. Mary had a lifelong passion for growing flowers and tomatoes. Her begonias were so big and beautiful in Dallas, that they graced the altar at her church. She passed on her love of gardening to Jeo, then Erik then to Stev. 

3. A time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, (she left everything behind in Texas and moved to Rio Rancho in 1986 to be close to Erik and Jeo.) 

4. A time to weep (father Robert Davidson died 1967 and mother, Myrtle Davidson, died 1979) and a time to laugh (she delighted in having Erik frequently as a small child and doted on him and his family... The "babies" especially in her later years. She loved her great grandbabies...) A time to mourn and a time to dance (Mary learned to two step in her 70s and, being a good Baptist, wasn't real comfortable dancing in the bar at the Sagebrush!) 

5. A time to scatter stones (she gifted most of her beloved rocks to Kathy Thibodaux) and a time to gather them (she once filled her suitcase full of rocks flying home from visiting Rick. The agent cracked "Geez, lady. What you got in your suitcase, rocks? ) a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, 

6. A time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away (thank goodness, for friends helping Jeo pack things up to move her to Taos). Mary almost never forgave Ellen for throwing away dozens of plastic ice cream containers when she moved to Taos!) 

7. A time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak (Mary was infamous for chattering and put her, her sister Nancy Johnson or Jeo together, well ....) 

8. A time to love (Mary was so sweet and always ready to love on her family or a child. The care staff once asked if she was really that sweet) and a time to hate, A time for war and a time for peace. (Peace with Jesus. Mary now has the peace that passes understanding and her heart's desire). A while ago, Jeo asked Mary if she knew how old she was... Mary guessed 60? When Jeo told her 98, she replied, "why, I'm almost ready to die!" Jeo assured her that God wouldn't take her until it was in his timing and Mary brightly said, "ok!" Two years later, it was finally time. Trusting in her savior's love... 

From the Davidson side, she was descended from the Pilgrims: William Brewster, William Carpenter, Stephen Hopkins and the Rev. Thomas Rogers that came on the Mayflower. On her mother's side, she was a direct descendant from Daniel Dulaney the Younger, her 5th Great Grandfather. He was a noted opposer of the Stamp Act 1765, and wrote the noted pamphlet Considerations on the Propriety of Imposing Taxes in the British Colonies which argued against taxation without representation. The pamphlet has been described as "the ablest effort of this kind produced in America", and helped to instigate the Boston Tea Party. On her father's side, the Davidsons were prominent First Families in the Carolinas, Alabama and Tennessee. Her ancestors fought in every war including the Revolutionary War, Civil War and World War I. Sitting there with her Mom, Jeo never knew what she'd say... A treasured "I love you", or 'you need to go get dressed!' Responding to a story with "Sho nuff?" Or dismissing Jeo by telling her to go get a good night's sleep, go outside and play or go take a nap... At 11am! After Mary's 99th birthday, Jeo was tidying up her room and tossing an old flower arrangement. As Jeo started to sit next to her, Mary piped up and said, "Thank you so much! You may go now!" She frequently told the CNAs to go jump in the creek, threatened to call the cops on the staff or to spank them when they moved her too much and she resented being woken up (she slept 20+ hours a day!). Mary once asked Jeo if the staff were hired because of how nice they were. One day, she instructed Jeo to leave them a $1 tip! She usually had a smile and a thank you for them.. although, she could get spicy at times! More than once, she told Jeo, "Don't wake me up all the way!" Or "Shush! Scat!" if Jeo or the caregivers tried talking to her. With old hymns and gospel music videos with nature scenes always playing in the background, they sensed she was looking forward to being with Jesus rather than in the past or present. She loved the Gaithers. It appeared that she treasured her time resting with her eyes closed, or napping, while she absorbed the truths of the old hymns. She was always at peace. Jeo began to realize the hours spent in vigil by her bed were more for her than for her mom. Truth be told, the music playing softly ministered to Jeo as much as to her Mom. Faith runs deep in their family...and music feeds their souls. Mary gave Jeo her first ukulele and chromatic harmonica and was her biggest fan. As Mary aged out, her favorite thing was listening to Jeo playing at her facilities with Ellen Warren in Rio Rancho, then Jimmy Stadler in Taos. As a toddler, Mary was Jeo's Sunday School teacher. Whether from her love of children (or the need to keep a lid on her active daughter!) she was promoted every year with Jeo until Jeo hit Primary. Every night, she'd go over the Sunday School lesson bulletins until Jeo fell asleep. Through her gentle ministering, Jeo accepted Christ at a tender age. Mary's faith and example were critical in making Jeo who she is today. Her assumption of excellence propelled Rick into the doctoral program at MIT and his career as the lead custom programmer for the FAA. She was so proud of him... Mary moved to New Mexico in 1986 to be close to her beloved grandson, Erik Oiesen-Vreeke. When Jeo went into labor with him (unbeknownst to Jeo) Mary rushed to the Dallas airport, flew to Albuquerque and surprised Jeo by walking into the delivery room just in time for the birth. She stayed in the birthing suite that night holding and cooing over Erik, her only grandchild. As a toddler, Erik spent almost Friday night with his Gran. As Erik grew, his Gran drove to Taos for birthdays and Christmases. She even drove to Valle Escondido in an old rear wheel drive Buick in a blizzard for his Eagle Scout Court of Honor! She soon replaced it with a 1997 Subaru AWD sedan which later she gifted to Erik. He has it to this day... A little rough since it was stolen and spray painted but still with under 50,000 miles! Mary spent her whole life preparing to go home with Jesus. Going home was her ultimate destination and joy. Having lived to be 100 years old, she was more than ready for that journey. Her legacy lives on through Erik & Sonya's 3 precious children: "the babies" (as she called them). Her great grandchildren... Estevan, Ian and Hayleigh. She'd spend hours lying in her bed chatting about their pictures and asking about them. The last time that she was really lucid, several days after her 100th birthday, Stev spent an hour holding her hand, chattering non-stop having a freewheeling conversation as only a person with dementia can have. She smiled the whole time, and Stev never missed a beat... Ellen texted Jeo the morning of her passing... "I can hear her voice in my head, 'Oh, Jeo', with different nuances as the years passed. Her southern accent always there..." You could cut her accent with a knife! And Jeo was continuously perturbing her so got to hear 'Oh, Jeo" frequently.... Her southern accent was legendary, and she was a Southern lady... she will always be remembered for her gentleness, sense of humor, abiding faith, self-sacrifice and spine of steel. She was a survivor....of the Great Depression, World War ll and life.

The family of Mary Lashley has entrusted the care of their loved one to the caring staff of DeVargas Funeral Home of Taos. www.devargastaos.com 1-866-657-4019