This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: marcenath Surnames: Tharp, Pontesilli Classification: obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.newmexico.counties.donaana/4274/mb.ashx Message Board Post: Las Cruces Sun News 29 April 2010 Mary Tharp, 87, passed away Tuesday April 27, 2010 at Mimbres Memorial Nursing Home. Mary Josephine Preso Tharp was born on December 10, 1922 in Walla Walla, Washington, the first-born child of Umberto Preso and Santina Pontesilli. The eldest child in Italian-American families usually had the brunt of the responsibility of caring for the younger children in the family. All of her younger siblings, Larry, Louis, Marge, Joseph, and Lucy all remembered her with love and thanksgiving for her tender care. Visitation will begin at 3 o'clock Friday afternoon at Baca's Funeral Chapels and the rosary service will be there at 7 o'clock in the evening. Mass of the Resurrection will be celebrated Saturday morning May 1, 2010 at 10 o'clock at Holy Family Catholic Church. The rite of committal and interment will follow at Mountain View Cemetery. Fr. Josh Duplissey, Pastor, will officiate. After graduating from high school Mary took a civil service exam and worked in Eugene, Oregon and then in Great Falls, Montana for the government maintaining World War II airplanes. It was here that Mary met the love of her life, Douglas R. Tharp. They married August 6, 1943 in Great Falls, MT with a readymade family as Mary had taken the youngest sibling, Lucy Preso, to raise. At the end of the war, Mary and Doug returned to his hometown in Las Cruces, New Mexico. After a few years there, Mary and Doug were blessed with a daughter, Connie Rae. In 1948, they moved to Deming where Douglas was a cotton farmer and rancher. Mary was famous for her cooking, gardening, and needle craft. Besides being a wonderful wife and mother, Mary worked for Home Federal (now First Savings Bank) for 27 years as a loan officer and 1st Vice President. She was a devout communicant at Holy Family Catholic Church. As the years rolled on, Mary took great pride in her quilting efforts, gifting relatives' infants with baby quilts. Many a grandchild and great-grandchild received quilts for Christmas. In their retired years, Mary and Doug enjoyed RVing. They made many good friends, saw many enchanting sights and were always eager to travel. She is survived by her husband, Doug of Deming; daughter, Connie Tharp of Hemet, CA; 2 brothers, Larry Preso and wife Mary of Walla Walla, WA and Joe Preso and wife Shirley of Enterprise, OR; sister, Lucy Preso of Deming; 4 grandchildren, Zan Marie Priefer, Heidi Melissa Fellows, Heather and James Huntoon; 3 great-grandchildren, Katelyn and Archana Priefer and Ashlyn Fellows. Mary was predeceased by her mother and father; sister, Marge Heskett; brother, Louis Preso and grandchild, Holly Ann Huntoon. Pallbearers will be William, Charles, Rod and Buddy Tharp, Jordan Priefer and James Huntoon. Honorary pallbearers will be Bonnie Stinson, Bud, Steve and Bill Allen, Bill Karr, Billy Foster and the Coffee Bunch. All of her loving family will miss her dearly. Entrusted to the care of Baca's Funeral Chapels. Exclusive provider for "Veterans & Family Memorial Care". To sign the online guest book or to send a card, please visit our website at www.bacasfuneralchapels.com. Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.